Swim25: 2,500 Prayer Ribbons
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Like a migration of birds, once a year in the fall, brightly colored ribbons appear, at first unexpectedly. They flutter silently in the breeze, like birds on a wing, responding to the fluctuations of the wind - shiny and reflective. They are the Prayer Ribbons.Like the Swim for Life itself, the idea of the Prayer Ribbons was a response to the symbiotic relationship the town has to its harbor - its identity, sustenance, its calling. The Prayer Ribbons are a witness and a testament to the lure of the water, the power of its forces that have shaped the embrace of its arms. It brings us together. Come in, immerse yourself.For over twenty years, the ribbons have flown across Commercial Street, made their dramatic appearance at the Meeting House concert, lined the waterfront deck of the Boatslip, Swim headquarters, and featured at World AIDS Day at the State House. The idea is simple: honor someone in your life, both living and deceased. Remember and celebrate community.In commemoration of the 25th Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, all 2,500 ribbons will be exhibited on the front lawn of the Provincetown Public Library from Friday, August 24 through Monday, August 27. On Sunday, August 26 there will be a reading of all the ribbons from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm. It will be a quiet and meditative ceremony. The public is invited to participate by volunteering to read some of the ribbons, or just witness the event for any amount of time.Following the reading, a Swim 25 party will be held at Harbor Lounge, open to the public, where Circle of Honor and David Asher Volunteer Awardees and others will be recognized for their longtime commitment to this Provincetown tradition.The 25th Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla is set for Saturday, September 8. Sponsors to date include: the Provincetown Banner, Boatslip Resort, Seamen’s Bank, Far Land Provisions, Fanizzi’s Restaurant, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Harbor Hotel, Marc Jacobs, Mussel Beach Health Club and the Crown & Anchor. The Swim is also funded in part by the Provincetown Tourism Fund.For swimmer, kayaker, volunteer and sponsorship information: www.swim4life.org, thecompact@comcast.org. The Provincetown Community Compact, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded by Jay Critchley in 1993 to enhance the well being of Provincetown and the Lower Cape, sponsors the event.
