[Chdiraux-l] SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD -022/06

[Chief Director of the Auxiliary Announcement List]

To:   ALAUX
Frm:  CHDIRAUX 
Subj:	SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
-022/06

1.   FYI:

R 221533Z JUN 06 
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-C// 
TO ALCOAST 
BT 
UNCLAS //N16790// 
ALCOAST 347/06 
COMDTNOTE 16790 

SUBJ:  SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY 

1. JUNE 23, 2006, IS A SIGNIFICANT DATE FOR TEAM COAST GUARD.  IT WILL MARK
OUR AUXILIARYS SIXTY-SEVENTH YEAR OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE NATION. 

2. WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN CALLING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUXILIARY OUR
SHIPMATES.  AS I INDICATED IN MY COMMANDANT'S INTENT MESSAGE TO ALL
AUXILIARIST SHORTLY AFTER ASSUMING COMMAND MAY 25, I CONSIDER EACH OF OUR
AUXILIARY MEMBERS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COAST GUARD. WE SIMPLY COULD NOT
MEET THE CHALLENGES WE FACE OR EXECUTE THE MISSIONS WE DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY
BASIS WITHOUT THEIR SELFLESS DEVOTION TO DUTY. OUR COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IS
TRULY THE FINEST ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION ON OUR NATION. DURING THE PAST
YEAR, THEY HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO DUTY DURING SOME OF THE MOST TRYING
TIMES IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.  THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND
SELFLESSNESS DISPLAYED BY OUR AUXILIARY TEAM FOLLOWING THE AFTERMATH OF
HURRICANES KATRINA, WILMA AND RITA WAS NOTHING SHORT OF MONUMENTAL. THEIR
HEROIC RESPONSE DURING THE WORST NATURAL DISASTERS ON RECORD CLEARLY
ILLUSTRATES THEIR DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE AND OUR NATION. 

3. WHILE MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY IN THE GULF REGION FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS
ON HELPING COMMUNITIES RECOVER FROM THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THE
HURRICANES, MANY OTHERS CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT COAST GUARD MISSIONS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE NATION. WHETHER CONDUCTING A VESSEL SAFETY CHECK, OR A
COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL DOCKSIDE SAFETY EXAM, STANDING A RADIO WATCH, OR
PULLING A SURVIVOR FROM THE WATER, THE AUXILIARY CONTINUED TO PROVE ITS
STRENGTH AND VALUE FROM COAST TO COAST.  LAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION
OPERATED AND MAINTAINED NEARLY 
4,900 SURFACE FACILITIES, 2,900 RADIO FACILITIES AND 300 AIR FACILITIES.
OVER 30,000 DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY UTILIZED THESE ASSETS TO SAVE
NEARLY 300 PEOPLE AND ASSIST OVER 8,000 MORE.  AN IMPRESSIVE 411,000 HOURS
WERE SPENT ON OPERATIONAL PATROLS.  MOST RECENTLY, OUR AUXILIARISTS PROVED
YET AGAIN THAT THEY WERE UP TO THE CHALLENGE WHEN THEY ARRIVED ON THE SCENE
OF A 24 FT VESSEL THAT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO TAKE ON WATER AND SANK ON THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.  THEIR TIMELY RESPONSE RESULTED IN THE SAFE RECOVERY OF
ALL 13 PEOPLE. 

4. THOUGH THE NUMBERS THAT AUXILIARISTS HAVE PRODUCED YEAR AFTER YEAR ARE
PROFOUND, THE GREATEST MEASURE OF THEIR IMPACT IS FOUND IN THE SPIRIT OF
PATRIOTISM AND COMMITMENT THEY HAVE CAST ACROSS OUR DECK PLATES AND DOWN TO
THE MOST JUNIOR COAST GUARD RECRUITS. 
5. THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE ASSET TO THIS SERVICE,
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND OUR NATION.  I VALUE THEIR
COMMITMENT AND AS SUCH HAVE ADDED THE NATIONAL COMMODORE AS A STANDING
MENBER OF MY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. ON JUNE 
23, 2006, I ENCOURAGE ALL COAST GUARD UNITS TO RECOGNIZE THE EXCEPTIONAL
DEDICATION AND DEVOTION TO DUTY THAT IS CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED BY OUR COAST
GUARD AUXILIARY VOLUNTEERS.
 
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED. 

7. ADM ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS. 

BT 
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