NAV EX 1st QTR 2018 NavEx 1st Qtr 2018 - Draft 7a | Page 19

Letter to the Commodore
03 OCT 17
From: Auxiliarist Brian Rollins, Flotilla 130-07-03, Member 1224664
To:
Commodore Kathy Goodwin, District Commodore, 13th Coast Guard District
Subj:
ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA AWARD CEREMONY, WASHINGTON DC
Commodore,
I want to thank you again for the impressive dinner and awards ceremony held on 23 September in Gig Harbor.
Scott and I are very honored to have received the award and I’m thankful for the opportunity to have met you
in person along with other district staff officers.
What's more, I also really want to thank you for your support of my trip to Washington DC. There wasn't much
time, but your direct support was what helped make the trip possible.
The trip to DC was a great honor. To start with, I’m sure I’ve never been in a room with so many Admirals in
my life. I spent a few minutes chatting with the Commandant who had just returned from Puerto Rico. He
related how much he appreciates the Auxiliary and while Hurricane Maria is much different from Katrina with
fewer water rescues needed, Auxiliarists are still there directly involved in support activities. It was clear that
he really appreciates us and the work that we do.
Each branch of the military has a liaison office in the Rayburn House Office Building. The Coast Guard is no
exception and I spent some time with the active duty there. It’s an unusual billet in that the officers do not
wear Coast Guard uniforms, but rather suits like anyone else in the building. The team was hard at work in
support of Puerto Rico but still arranged for me to have a personally guided tour of the Capitol.
The evening ceremony was very nice and I’m told one of the more prestigious that headquarters is involved
with each year. I was particularly impressed by the other stories of rescue and humbled to be there. In
particular, the rescue by District 13’s own BM1 Jacob Hylkema. The two of us spent a few minutes chatting
and he actually invited me up to Gig Harbor for a ride on one of their boats. BM1, Scott and I were the only
Coast Guard awardees. Also present were representatives from several international shipping companies and
cruise lines. This included Capt. Hugo Ammeriaan, of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Attache in
Washington DC and Haris Lalacos, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S.
While this was a short trip, it is something I will remember for the rest of my life. I’m extremely thankful that I
had Scott as my crewman on the day of our rescue. I’m also greatly appreciative of those in Division 7 who
have helped train us in the preceding years. Were it not for the annual “Crew and Coxswain Academy” and all
of the other regular training we receive, we would not have been as prepared as we were. In particular, I want
you to know that the efforts of Don Verkest, Ken Babick and Todd Mains were all instrumental in making us
the Auxiliarists that we are today.
Thank you again for you direct support. It was both and honor and a pleasure to meet you at the District
Conference. I look forward to the next time we meet.
Very Respectfully,
Brian Rollins
OR express
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