Wyoming Loran Station holds flag retirement ceremony

Photo courtesy of: Nathan Payne, Gillette News Record

On the 71st anniversary of Veterans Day, Coast Guard Loran Station Gillette, Wyo., performed a flag retirement ceremony in honor of the American flag, the Coast Guard ensign and the Wyoming state flag.

“When an American flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning,” said Chief Petty Officer Rodney S. Clark, the officer-in-charge of Loran Station Gillette.

Nov. 11, 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, brutal, and far reaching war in human account. In honor of this day, Loran Station Gillette performed a flag retirement ceremony 91 years later on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

The ceremony was small, quiet and honorable. Clark served as the master of ceremonies, Petty Officer 1st Class Shannon E. Butterfield and Petty Officer 3rd Class Zach L. Kofahl, both electronics technicians, served as the honorary color guard members, and Petty Officer 1st Class Jason J. Ellison, a machinery technician, stood vigil over the flames that consumed the flags.

17 American flags, two U. S. Coast Guard flags and one Wyoming state flag were donated by local merchants, community members and the Loran Station.

“This ceremony was a way for the Coast Guard to help the community understand that there is a method to dispose of flags properly,” said Clark.

At 7 p. m., the ceremony was started by lighting the fire while over the loud speaker “You’re A Grand Ole Flag” played. Row-by-row attendees were asked to bring their flags to the fire, and one-by-one Ellison held each flag over the fire until it ignited.

“The ceremony shows the respect that should be given to the American flag and what it stands for,” said Ellison. “I am proud to be an American and serve my country under the U. S. Coast Guard.”

The morning after the ceremony, Loran station crewmembers buried the ashes on the station grounds.

“As long as Americans cherish liberty more than life itself, the stars and stripes will continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America,” said Clark.

Boatswains mate, friend, volunteer

Making commitments are part of everyday life, even more so if you are a Guardian. Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin P. Moynahan, a boatswains mate with the Coast Guard Cutter Osage (WLR 65505), a sixty-five foot river tender with a one-hundred foot barge attached, is no exception.

In September, Moynahan made the commitment to be a bone marrow donor.

“I want to help people and children who are sick and in need,” said Moynahan. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Being a bone marrow donor is not an easy process. The first step is deciding that it is something you want to do.

According to http://www.marrow.org/, “You are taking the first step to save a life.”

After making that decision, there is a step-by-step process that leads up to the actual donation and with the support of his family, friends, and coworkers, Moynahan has taken the first step for donating.

After that first step, there is a lot of paperwork and blood samples. Then if you are a match to a patient, there is a physical exam. As the process is lengthy, it also gets harder.

According to http://www.marrow.org/, “Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure. While you receive anesthesia, doctors use special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood. For 5 days leading up to donation, you will receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim to move more blood-forming cells out of the marrow and into the bloodstream. Your blood is then removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to you through the other arm. There can be several side effects and your marrow is completely replaced within 4 to 6 weeks."

Moynahan is assigned to the Osage, homeported in Sewickley, Pa. Since basic training, all he has known is aids to navigation, from the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter William Tate (WLM 560) to Aids to Navigation team Bristol, R.I., and now the Osage.

“I knew the Coast Guard would benefit me through teaching me good values and skills, and serving my country was important to me,” said Moynahan.

“I love my job and because mariners rely upon aids to navigation and it helps keep me active and outdoors,” said Moynahan. “I also get to see the finished product and get to interact with the local mariners.”

Moynahan has several duties on the cutter some of which include, crane operator, buoy deck supervisor, coxswain and weapons petty officer.

“Petty Officer Moynahan is a dedicated crewmember ,” said Petty Officer 1st Class John G. Sadler, executive petty officer of the Osage. “He will work at any time, in any condition to complete the mission.”

Completing the missions is not Moynahan’s only priority. He has been married for a little more than 17 months to his wife Kelly, he donates blood to the local Red Cross and he participated in the Pittsburgh Marathon benefiting Leukemia and Lymphoma research.

“I joined the Coast Guard to help people and save lives,” said Moynahan. “I am fulfilling my oath and responsibility as a person and a military member by giving this donation. I’m hoping my actions make others decide to volunteer and donate as well.”

Senior CG Civil Rights leadership visits Eighth District

On October 21st, D8 senior staff and I met with Ms. Terry Dickerson, CG Director of Civil Rights, and Ms. Faynetta Anderson, Norfolk Regional Manager of Civil Rights. That evening I had the pleasure of hosting a dinner for Ms. Dickerson and Ms. Faynetta at Quarters, as well as the senior leadership from Xavier University.

Dinner at Quarters with CG Civil Rights and Xavier University leadership

Rear Adm. Mary E. Landry, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District (front, left), hosts senior leadership from the Coast Guard Civil Rights directorate as well as Xavier University, including the director of CG Civil Rights, Ms. Terri Dickerson (third from left), and Dr. Norman C. Francis, president of Xavier University (second from left). Joining them were Ms. Faynetta Anderson (second from right), the Coast Guard's Civil Rights regional manager; Dr. Loren Blanchard (front, right), Xavier University Senior VP for Academic Affairs; Dr. Marguerite Giguette (third from right), Associate VP for Academic Affairs; retired Coast Guard Capt. Mark H. Landry (fourth from right); and Mr. Calvin Tregre (fourth from left), Xavier University Senior VP for Administration.

Xavier University of Louisiana is the country's only Catholic, Historically Black University, and the University's President, Dr. Norman C. Francis, is one of the most interesting and distinguished professionals I have had the pleasure of meeting. Dr. Francis is the longest standing University President in the nation, and is a 2006 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This award is the nation's highest honor for any civilian to receive, and was presented to Dr. Francis by the former President of the United States, George W. Bush.

The dinner conversation with Dr. Francis was inspiring. He educated and told us stories of our nation's history he has personally witnessed, along with the challenges and triumphs he has encountered as President of a Historically Black University. Dr. Francis spoke of his encounters with former and current presidents, and international leaders as well. Overall, the discussion at dinner was enlightening, fascinating, and extremely memorable.

Thank You to Our Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day - a day to remember those who have served and those who continue to serve our great nation. This past Friday the National World War II Museum opened a new wing and used this event as a way to salute the U.S. Military – both past and present. There were approximately 350 WWII veterans and 150 active duty military personnel (representing all of the armed services) at the event.

The festivities included a “Feed the Troops” sit-down luncheon (served by Hollywood celebrities), screenings of Tom Hanks’ “Beyond All Boundaries” and a formal procession and presentation.
U.S. Coast Guard World War II veteran George Blessing [USCGC Iris (WLB-395); USCGC Taney (WHEC-37)] chats with actor Tom Hanks over lunch at the grand opening ceremony of the newest annex of the National World War II Museum, Nov. 6, 2009. The $50 million annex encompasses the Solomon Victory Theater, the Stage Door Canteen, and the American Sector Restaurant. The master of ceremonies was Tom Brokaw and the event included several celebrity speakers, musical entertainment, and aerial fly-overs by both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy. In the spirit of a true WWII canteen, Hanks and other celebrities served lunch to WWII veterans and active duty personnel following the ceremony. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth H. Bordelon.)

While most of us are familiar with the story of Signalman First Class Douglas Munro, who took charge of a dozen 36-foot Higgins boats evacuating surrounded Marines and was killed by enemy fire( resulting in being awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions), many of us have not had the fortune to have interacted with other WWII veterans who made tremendous sacrifices during this tumultuous time.

Last Friday, we were fortunate to meet FIVE Coast Guard WWII veterans:Rear Adm. Mary Landry welcomed U.S. Coast Guard World War II veterans Burton Cary [USS Leonard Wood (AP-25/APA-12)], Marvin Carpenter [USS Bayfield(APA-33)], Gerald Fortier (FS-549), Warren Hotard [LCI(L)-87 Flotilla 4] and George Blessing [USCGC Iris (WLB-395); CGC Taney (WHES-37)] to the National World War II Museum, Nov. 6, 2009. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth H. Bordelon.)

The Coast Guard has an impressive history as the nation’s oldest continuously operated naval service. We have served under three different departments including Treasury Department (1790), Dept. of Transportation (1967), and DHS (2003). We have seen combat in virtually every conflict fought by the United States since 1790 and, in WWII, participated in every major European landing.

From the CG Historian's Web site, here are a few more nuggets of CG WWII trivia...

· This reserve corps had its own commanding officer, Capt. Dorothy C. Stratton, who originated the term SPARs an acronym for “Semper Paratus – Always Ready.” More than 10,000 women volunteered for the SPARs between 1942 and 1946.

· The ACUSHNET earned three battle stars in World War II.

· Cutter ALEXANDER HAMILTON fell victim to a torpedo attack in January 1942, but the other five “Secretary-class” cutters remained a core of the American escort effort through mid-1943.

· USCG manned hundreds of Navy and Army ships that supported ships and troops in the Pacific.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Station Destin scares up donations for Harvest Food Bank

The temperature has begun to dip and rafts and beach chairs have been tucked away. As things at U.S. Coast Guard Station Destin, Fla. begin to wind down, the thoughts of the station crew turn to one thing--Halloween. And, when it comes to Halloween, no other station on the Gulf Coast can hold a jack-o-lantern to Station Destin.

The small boat station crew hosted its 2nd annual haunted house benefiting the Destin Harvest Food Bank Oct. 24-25 and 29-30. Constructed in the boat house at Station Destin by the station crew and their family members, the free public event drew a record crowd of over 1,700 residents. Additionally, the station crew collected several truck loads of non-perishable food items and $1,200 in donations, which will go to supplying local needy families with Thanksgiving meals.
"Last year's haunted house was only two nights," said Chief Petty Officer Jack Porter, the engineering petty officer for Station Destin. "It was such a big success that we were able to collect two truck loads of food and $500 in donations. We decided to expand this year to four nights."

The boat house boasted several themed rooms, which were sure to spook any fright seeker brave enough to venture in. From traditional zombies and bloody surgeons to a twisted birthday party complete with creepy clowns, the station crew made this a haunted house to remember.

I found the exorcism room, manned by Fireman Felicia Lunghi and Petty Officer 1st Class Tim Adamchick, especially terrifying. How they managed to make the bed levitate and shake is still a mystery. And, what haunted house would be complete without scary chain saw guys? I have no doubt that Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Zubillaga is still haunting the nightmares of many a visitor.
However, the haunted house was not the only thing the station crew had to offer. There were games with prizes and an inflatable bounce house for the kids, as well as a 25-foot Coast Guard Response Boat on shore. Visitors were allowed to sit in the driver's seat of the small boat and given an overview of the instrument panel. This also helped pass time while visitors waited their turn to enter the house of horrors.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary was also on hand each evening. Auxiliarists directed parking, assisted in crowd control and manned a boating safety display with knotting demonstrations, safe boating literature and recruiting information. With a crowd of more than 1,700 people descending on the small station, the auxiliarists had their hands full!

Considering the success of this year's haunted house, one can only wonder what adventures this creative crew of Station Destin will have in store for us next year.