CLEVELAND — Coast Guard men and women from across the 9th Coast Guard District celebrated Veterans Day at various observances today, as well as earlier this month.
Throughout the Great Lakes region, Coast Guard units hosted Veterans Day observances, supported community events, and honored those who served before.
“Our nation owes its existence to those Americans who have fought for — and continue to fight for — our freedoms,” said Rear Adm. Michael N. Parks, commander of the 9th Coast Guard District.
The 6,000 active-duty, reserve, civilian and Auxiliary personnel who make up the 9th Coast Guard District deliver multi-mission services in search and rescue, maritime safety and security, environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation and ice breaking throughout the five Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway and parts of the surrounding states. This area includes 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of shared border with Canada.
9th District units supported these other events and observances:
- A rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Mich., flew over Forest Park schools in Crystal Falls, Mich., and landed there on Nov. 3 to kick off the town’s Veterans Week celebrations
- Capt. Jeff Ogden, commander of Coast Guard Sector Detroit, laid a wreath and served in a US/Canadian honor guard at the Lost Mariners Remembrance at Dossin Great Lakes Museum Thursday evening, with Station Belle Isle supporting with a rescue boatcrew
- Cmdr. Edward Marohn, deputy commander of Sector Detroit, attended a Veterans Day ceremony at the Detroit Athletic Club, and Lt. Cmdr. Gary Koehler, chief of prevention at Sector Detroit, participated in a memorial service at Mariner’s Church of Detroit by conducting a reading and bell ringing Friday
- Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Sanders, a search and rescue controller at Sector Detroit, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Mich., Friday
- A crewmember represented Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay, Wis., at the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation’s “Celebrating What’s Right With America” event Friday afternoon
- Senior Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Dale, command senior chief at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., spoke at a Veterans Day observance at Sault Ste. Marie High School Friday
- Lt. Cmdr. Nicholas Wong, chief of prevention at Sector Sault Ste. Marie, re-enacted a re-enlistment ceremony for a member of the unit at a local grade school Friday
- Personnel from Coast Guard Station St. Clair Shores, Mich., gave presentations on boating and water safety as well as Coast Guard careers at a Veterans Day concert at Fountain Elementary School in Roseville, Mich., Friday
- Much of the crew at Coast Guard Station Harbor Beach, Mich., attended Harbor Beach High School’s “Breakfast for Veterans”
- Master Chief Petty Officer Gerald Backus, officer-in-charge of Coast Guard Station Saginaw River in Essexville, Mich., participated in a Veterans Day event at a local school Thursday
