Norfolk Harborfest and Sail250 Virginia officials held a special tribute to honor cadet América Yamilet Sánchez and sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, who died last month when their ship, the Cuauhtémoc, struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The ship was on a goodwill visit.
The ceremony included the traditional mariner's prayer, the ringing of bells, and the placement of wreaths in the water.
The Cuauhtémoc often visited Norfolk and has been invited to participate in next year’s Sail250 celebration.
"It was our opportunity to pay tribute to them, the traditional maritime tribute when a sailor loses their life in service,” said Karen Scherberger, executive chairman of Norfolk Festevents, which produces Harborfest.
"All their sailors, their officers, they’re good friends of Norfolk, so we just wanted to show our respect.”
1 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited.jpg
The wreaths would later be tossed into the Elizabeth River to honor two sailors from the Mexican Navy ship, Cuauhtémoc, who died last month during a goodwill visit to New York.
ZACH ROBERTS
2 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-3.jpg
Rosemarie Uribe, director of administration and protocol for Sail250 Virginia, with one of the wreaths that would later be thrown into the river to honor two Mexican Navy sailors who lost their lives in an accident aboard the tall ship Cuauhtemoc last month.
ZACH ROBERTS
3 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-4.jpg
Norfolk Harborfest and Sail250 Virginia officials held a special tribute Saturday to honor cadet América Yamilet Sánchez and sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos from the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc. They died as the ship was leaving a goodwill trip in New York last month.
Photo by Zach Roberts
4 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-45.jpg
A family watches the ceremony held during Harborfest on Saturday. The memorial service honored two sailors who died last month in an accident on their ship, the Cuauhtémoc.
Photo by Zach Roberts
5 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-9.jpg
A crew takes two wreaths to throw into the river, a tradition to honor sailors, especially those lost at sea. The tall ship, the Cuauhtémoc, was a frequent visitor to Norfolk.
ZACH ROBERTS
6 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-14.jpg
A crew takes two wreaths to throw into the river, a tradition to honor sailors, especially those lost at sea. The tall ship,
7 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-28.jpg
Photo by Zach Roberts
8 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-47.jpg
A crew threw two wreaths into the river, a tradition to honor sailors, especially those lost at sea. Two sailors from the Mexican Navy ship, the Cuauhtémoc, died last month during an accident on the ship.
9 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-50.jpg
A family pays its respects during a service Saturday for two sailors who died during an accident aboard their ship last month.
ZACH ROBERTS
10 of 10
— 06-07-2025-MexicanNavyWreathLaying-edited-43.jpg
Two wreaths were
Photo by Zach Roberts