CAPE MAY – Aug. 21 was a really hot day for Coast Guard Recruit Company November 191. Graduation is always a milestone but seldom does the Coast Guard commandant attend those weekly ceremonies at Training Center Cape May. If that were not enough, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled its newest Forever stamp that honors the Coast Guard’s 225th anniversary.
Adm. Paul Zukunft decided to return to see the company he mentored through their recruit training officially enter into the sea service. The man who visited the base in May to present Cape May County with its Coast Guard Community designation told the graduating class and the rest of the recruit company that only a week ago, he was in Havana, Cuba, when the U.S. Embassy reopened after 50 years.
He lauded their decision to become part of the service that aids commercial fishermen, searches for lost sailors in icy waters, and is the front line of the nation’s battle against illicit drugs. He cited a recent seizure of over $1 billion worth of cocaine by a 140-member Coast Guard crew.
That was the service each of the graduates was entering after a five-day leave before reporting to their new duty stations.
Some of those assignments were in frigid places while others were in sweltering locations; some will go to air stations while still others will patrol rivers and lakes aboard vessels of varying sizes.
As an extra special part of the graduation ceremony, which included a performance by the recruit ceremonial detail and a gun salute to honor the commandant, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a commemorative “Forever” stamp that honors the Coast Guard’s 225th anniversary.
Addressing the graduates, their friends, families and station personnel on the festive day was Nicholas Sucich, manager, Multimedia Communications and National Events.
Sucich reminisced of his teen years in Wildwood Crest when he wanted to buy a motorboat. His father permitted the purchase on one condition, that his son took an approved boating safety course from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. When he pressed his father as to why, the reply was, “Because they know everything about boats and you don’t know a darn thing.” He professed that the actual word was more forceful than “darn.”
An oversized depiction of the stamp was unveiled simultaneously by Zukunft and Sucich. That stamp honors the Coast Guard for its role in protecting the security of the nation and advancing its maritime interests.
The stamp shows the Coast Guard sailing vessel Eagle “American’s Tall Ship” with a Coast Guard MH65 Dolphin helicopter, which is the standard rescue aircraft of the service.
After the graduation Peggy Clifford, Cape May postmaster and others from the Postal Service had the commemorative stamps on sale on the parade ground.
She said it’s not the first time the Cape May Post Office has had such special sales.
“This is really a great community event, especially with the Coast Guard. It is great to honor the people who serve on the waters that surround us,” Clifford said.
She expected to sell out the 2,000 stamps she carried to the graduation and unveiling.
Lower Township – Who are these people that are obvious experts on trash cans and leaf pick-up? Maybe they don't have any trash to put out or leaves in their yard!!
