BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Coast Guard Auxiliary District 11 South, Division 4, Flotilla 10 was officially recognized in a chartering ceremony, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, at the Sundale Country Club in Bakersfield.
The new organization, designated Flotilla 4-10, is located in Bakersfield, and will work closely with the communities of Kern County, serving Lake Isabella, Lake Ming, Lake Buena Vista and assisting in addressing the high number of boating incidents on inland lakes to promote recreational boating safety in the those areas.
Flotilla 4-10 Commander Gary Draeger received the charter from Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo, the Coast Guard District Eleven commander based out of Alameda, Calif., in a Plank Owner ceremony.
The Auxiliarists and active-duty Coast Guardsmen participated in a long-standing Naval tradition similar to when crewmembers of a newly christened ship were given pieces of the vessel’s wooden deck. The members were handed small ceremonial planks, a Plank Owner Certificate and given the title of Plank Owners of the new Flotilla.
Auxiliarists are citizen volunteers who augment many of the Coast Guard’s non-law enforcement missions. They represent a broad cross-section of the community, among them, Coast Guard retirees, fire-fighters, business professionals, active and retired military and others.
