NAV EX 1st QTR 2018 NavEx 1st Qtr 2018 - Draft 7a | Page 10

Crossing the Ba
Story by Daren Lewis
Fifteen years ago I arrived in a parking lot to
discover a few people unloading snacks and
the inevitable coffee urn. Hot coffee at 1845 is
always a good sign; I had a feeling I’d found my
people. After introducing myself, we collected
our share of the supplies, and proceeded to the
Training Deck of Marine Safety Office Portland.
The people I met in that parking lot were my
first Coast Guard shipmates. The core of the
group, something I’d come to understand was
a thing called a Flotilla, were Earl Markham, Tim
Kelly, Barbara Korsmo, and Ken Anderson. At
the time they had over 150 years of Auxiliary
service between them. They had all held roles I
didn’t yet understand--things like District Vice
Commodore, District Rear Commodore, District
Staff Officer, NACO Aide.
In retrospect, I realize I had no idea how lucky
I’d been to have such early friends and mentors
in the Auxiliary. Each of these four Auxiliarists
had made an outsized impact on the Auxiliary.
For me, their accomplishments set the standard
for what a Auxiliarist could and should do.
Time takes a toll. The thirty to forty plus years
differences in our ages then, add my thirty-one
years at the time, add another fifteen years
since, and we’ve lost three of those shipmates--
first Tim, then Earl, and finally Ken this year.
Our demographics and the unfortunate
accidents mean that we lose shipmates far too
often. I’ve spoken at the memorials of shipmates
who reached their nineties and of one who
was in his mid-twenties. I feel fortunate that,
in those cases, we’d not lost touch and that I
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Remembering ou
was surrounded in a sea of blue uniforms when
we celebrated their lives. I regret the ones we
learned about well after their memorials.
In District 13 we conduct a crossing the bar
ceremony as we open each of our District
meetings. For the last few years I’ve had the
honor of conducting one or the other of the
two roles. Our ceremony opens with a reading
of Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar” followed by a
brief talk on the ringing of ships bells. We then
ask each Division Commander to share the
names of shipmates who have passed since our
last meeting, with a ringing of the bell for each.
Finally we strike 8 bells for the end of the watch.
No matter how many times I’m honored to
participate in this ceremony, my eyes are never
dry at the end. I always hear names I know
and shipmates I’ve served with. I think about
the families who have created space for those
shipmates to serve.
I think about Ken, Earl, Tim, Tony, Peter, and
many others. I remember how lucky we were to
serve along side them. I recommit to meet the
core values they taught me. I endeavor to save
a few moments of thought for them when I next
USCG Photo
join shipmates
in fellowship. I reflect that we are
part of a continuing line of Auxiliarists who have
stood that watch for over 75 years. I prepare
to USCG
standing
Photo that watch for them as they stood
the watch for me. I promise to train and mentor
those who will stand the watch after me.
Be safe out there and look to the safety of your
shipmates.
NAVIGATO