Coast Guard honors fallen Blackthorn shipmates

Southeastern Coast Guard News
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Families and Coast Guard members gathered at the 33rd annual service of remembrance honoring the lives of those lost in the sinking of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn at the Blackthorn Memorial Park here, Monday.

The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. The Blackthorn lost 23 of 50 crewmembers during the Coast Guard’s worst peacetime disaster.


The Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard Team presents colors during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Peterburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

The Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard Team presents colors during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Peterburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

A member of the Coast Guard Honor Guard Silent Drill Team fires a 21-gun salute during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

A member of the Coast Guard Honor Guard Silent Drill Team fires a 21-gun salute during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

A Coast Guardsman salutes in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn Memorial during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Fla., Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

A Coast Guardsman salutes in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn Memorial during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Fla., Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

A Coast Guardsman presents a rose for a fallen shipmate and salutes in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn Memorial during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse

A Coast Guardsman presents a rose for a fallen shipmate and salutes in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn Memorial during the 33rd anniversary memorial service of the Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael De Nyse


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