United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze - USCGAUX ...

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 9
Continued from page 8
City at a ceremony held in downtown Clearwater.
Clearwater is one of only twelve Coast Guard Cities
nationwide, and the only one in Florida. It’s also the
first city so designated by Admiral Papp since he was
appointed Commandant. Hundreds attended the event
at an outside pavilion, including civilians, veterans,
and Coast Guard, including Auxiliarists. Along with
Admiral Papp, Mayor Frank Hibbard and numerous
federal, state and local officials, as well as Coast
Guard dignitaries, participated in the event. The Coast
Guard City designation is authorized by Congress
to recognize the outstanding support a community
provides to Coast Guard personnel and their families.
The Coast Guard Band Brass Quintet, the Coast Guard
Honor Guard and the Coast Guard Silent Drill team
made the event exceptional.
January 28 witnessed the Gasparilla invasion of the
city of Tampa. Several Auxiliary facilities, with crews
from Divisions 7, 8 and 11, supported the Coast
Guard units that escorted the Jose´ Gaspar pirate ship
across Hillsborough Bay and up Seddon Channel to
downtown Tampa. Hundreds of boats and thousands
of people also participated in the annual event.
On land, after the “invasion,” a multi-float parade
provided “booty” of beads to throngs of revelers along
the parade route. Division 7 was the primary Auxiliary
support unit.
On a more somber note, also on January 28, the 32nd
Annual Service of Remembrance of the loss of 23 Coast
Guardsmen’s lives in Tampa Bay on January 28, 1980,
took place. The sinking of the United States Coast
Guard Cutter Blackthorn and attendant loss of life was
the greatest peacetime casualty in Coast Guard history.
Several Auxiliarists from throughout the west coast
of Florida attended the Memorial Service, along with
members of the Coast Guard, family members, and
guests, at the Blackthorn Memorial Park at the north
end of the Skyway Bridge. Vice Admiral Robert Parker
delivered the memorial address during the service,
which included a fly over by a C-130 and two MH-60s,
a three-gun salute by the Coast Guard Honor Guard,
and music by the Coast Guard Band Brass Quintet.
Looking ahead, the west region is expecting an
exceptionally busy and challenging year. Among our
primary challenges will be the Republican National
Convention, taking place in Tampa in August, which
will require extensive Auxiliary support. Ω
Melvin Manning, District Captain-West stands in front of the Blackthorn Memorial on January 28 with Vice Admiral Robert C.
Parker, Commander, Atlanc Area / Commander, Defense Force East. Photo by Auxiliary member, Deborah A. Mallory, Public
Affairs Officer, Air Staon Clearwater