[CHDIRAUX-L] AUXILIARY 70TH ANNIVERSARY -023/09

[chdiraux-l at cgls.uscg.mil]

To:   ALAUX
From: CHDIRAUX
Subj:  AUXILIARY 70TH ANNIVERSARY -023/09

1.  FYI:


R 191655Z JUN 09 	
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N16790//
ALCOAST 365/09
COMDTNOTE 16790
SUBJ: 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
1. JUNE 23, 2009, IS A SIGNIFICANT DATE FOR THE COAST GUARD AS IT
WILL MARK OUR AUXILIARY'S 70TH YEAR OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE
NATION. WE TAKE TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN CALLING THESE VOLUNTEER
GUARDIANS OUR SHIPMATES, KNOWING THAT THEIR SELFLESS DEVOTION TO
DUTY AND UNWAVERING PRIDE HAVE GIVEN US INVALUABLE SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT OUR DAILY ROUTINES AND GREATEST CHALLENGES.
2. FOR SEVEN DECADES, AUXILIARISTS HAVE NOBLY OFFERED THEIR TIME,
EFFORTS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE COAST GUARD. SPECIFICALLY
DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS, A PERIOD OF UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE TO
OUR NATIONAL SAFETY, SECURITY AND SPIRIT, AUXILIARY CONTRIBUTIONS
HAVE BEEN STAGGERING IN THEIR BREADTH AND SCOPE. THESE UNDAUNTED
VOLUNTEERS HAVE PERFORMED OVER 1.2 MILLION RECREATIONAL AND
COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY CHECKS, OVER 980 THOUSAND HOURS OF
BOATING SAFETY COURSE INSTRUCTION, AND MORE THAN 7.7 MILLION HOURS
OF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND PATROL MISSIONS. THE COSTS OF SUCH
PERFORMANCE HAVE ALSO BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY BORNE BY AUXILIARISTS AS
THEY HAVE LOGGED OVER 23.7 MILLION HOURS OF STAFF WORK, TRAVEL,
PREPARATION, TRAINING, AND SELF-ADMINISTRATION. THIS HAS ALL BEEN
UNSELFISHLY DELIVERED AS AUXILIARISTS HAVE STOOD SIDE BY SIDE WITH
THEIR COAST GUARD COUNTERPARTS TO CONFRONT AND OVERCOME A ROLL CALL
OF CHALLENGES: Y2K, 9/11, HURRICANE KATRINA, AND MANY OTHER NATURAL
AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS.
3. THE AUXILIARY CONTINUES TO ALIGN ITSELF WITH THE COAST GUARD,
MODERNIZING ITS ORGANIZATION ACROSS ALL SECTORS, DISTRICTS, AND
HEADQUARTERS DIRECTORATES TO SHAPE OPTIMAL SUPPORT OF COAST GUARD
MISSIONS TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE. MOREOVER, THE AUXILIARY HAS
GAINED EVEN GREATER HEADWAY AS IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BROADENED ITS
ABILITY TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS MORE AND MORE NON-TRADITIONAL
MISSION AREAS SUCH AS INTERPRETER, VESSEL DOCUMENTATION, LEGAL, AND
HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORT. I GREATLY ADMIRE THE ORGANIZATIONAL
COURAGE AND DETERMINATION OF ALL AUXILIARISTS AS WE MAKE OUR FINAL
APPROACH ON ACHIEVING A FULLY MODERNIZED AND INTEGRATED COAST
GUARD.
4. AUXILIARY PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF STELLAR, AND ITS
GREATEST IMPACTS ARE READILY REFLECTED BY AUXILIARISTS SPIRIT OF
PATRIOTISM AND DEDICATION TO THE COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN WITH
WHOM THEY SERVE. I THEREFORE INTEND TO DULY RECOGNIZE THE AUXILIARY
WITH AN AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD UNIT COMMENDATION AS PART OF ITS
70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS ON JUNE
23. PLEASE JOIN ME IN SETTING ASIDE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE
EXCEPTIONAL HONOR, RESPECT, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY SO CONSISTENTLY
DISPLAYED BY OUR COAST GUARD AUXILIARISTS, AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR
SERVICE.
5. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.
BT

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