Parade of Sails steams past Fort Monroe

HAMPTON ? Ron Carson's camera equipment was set up shortly after the sun broke on the Chesapeake Bay Friday morning. Knowing the sun would be bright and the sky cloudless, the Hampton man carried extra filters and a lens hood to help capture the ships passing by in the waters just a couple hundred yards in front of him.

Carson and a few dedicated others arrived at Fort Monroe's sea wall hours early to claim territory before the Parade of Sails steamed by in Hampton Roads. By 9 a.m., he was joined by nearly 6,000 people for the OpSail event that passed by Old Point Comfort.

The crowd watched as dozens of tall ships, military boats and a submarine passed through Hampton Roads in what also turned out to be the largest event held at Fort Monroe since the Army decommissioned the post in September.

"We see this as a successful opportunity for people to be a part of Fort Monroe," Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder.

"We've proved today we can accommodate a large crowd like this, and events like this are what make Fort Monroe a great location to be at," he said.

Since taking over as the state's representative to Fort Monroe, the authority has advertised the former Army post as a public place, holding smaller events at the more than 500-acre site.

Oder ? who spent most of the morning in a hat and orange mesh vest directing traffic ? said he sees public interest growing in Fort Monroe.

"We want to be a premier site for events like this," he said.

Hal and Mary Carter have regularly visited Fort Monroe for years. The Hampton couple spent Friday morning sunning themselves on the beach and viewing the Parade of Sails.

"This is a hidden gem right here. I'm surprised so many people knew about it," said Hal Carter, who retired from Fort Monroe after working there for 30 years. "It's a beautiful, sunny day, the boats are beautiful, so I really can't complain."

The Carters said they appreciate the lifeguards who monitor the beaches.

Joseph Tazey remembers years ago when he attended dances at the Chamberlin. He sat with Maria Robb on a bench along the southern sea wall.

"I want to see a lot of the older ships, the tall ships, things like that," the Newport News man said.

Robb was waiting for the larger Spanish tall ships, although she was willing to let Tazey borrow her binoculars.

"It's been such a beautiful day," Tazey said. "I've never seen anything like this."

Gary Matthews said he remember coming to Fort Monroe as a child to fish. "I will come out here sometimes just to sit because it's so beautiful."

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