P a ge 25 t opside V olume 79 , I s s u e 1
Auxiliarists and Community Members Make Thanksgiving for Coasties Who Cannot Go Home Article and Photos by Joseph Giannattasio
For the third year in a row , on November 21st ., District 5NR Auxiliarists and members of the community showed their appreciation to the families of USCG Station Cape May and home-ported cutters for their sacrifices while giving them a thoughtful Thanksgiving meal — complete with all the trimmings . John Burns , the Auxiliary Unit Coordinator for the station , Chef Robert Ohlsen , a Culinary Arts Instructor at the Cumberland County Technical Education Center , and Nick DiRenzo , owner of Westside Meats in Rio Grande worked with LT Jason Harczak , the station ’ s Commanding Officer to make a special family style dinner for over 50 people .
More than 650 active duty , reserve , and civilian members work at USCG Training Center Cape May and the 15 tenant commands . Coast Guard active duty members and families in Cape May face the same hardships as service members stationed anywhere . Some are unable to go home and be with their families during the holiday . And some families are missing an essential element to their holiday celebrations – a deployed loved one .
Because Coast Guard personnel of the Duty Section need to be underway for an emergency in less than six minutes the dinner was held in the station ’ s boathouse . Nick DiRenzo donated the food . Under the supervision of Chef Rob , John Burns and his wife Chris , and COMO ( elect ) Joe
A bountiful Thanksgiving serving line awaits Coast Guard members and families . Giannattasio helped with food preparation and serving . LT Harczak ’ s wife Lisa and Chef Rob ’ s son , Robert , also helped in preparing and serving the dinner . Personnel and families decorated and set up tables and supplied soda , water , and cups . The goal is simply to provide Thanksgiving dinner , complete with turkey , dressing , mashed potatoes , desserts , etc ., to members and family of the Coast Guard as a simple way of showing appreciation to them , especially those who will not be able to travel home to be with family over the holiday .
After dinner , LT Harczak presented Chef Rob and John Burns with unit plaques as tokens of appreciation for all they have done in coordinating this feast for the past three years .
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