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Despite the raging snow on the morning of January 9, 2015, a small crowd of 50 – 60 gathered at the graveyard outside Trinity Church, NYC, to kick off the weekend long celebration of Alexander Hamilton’s 258th birthday.
Since Hamilton was the founding father of the Coast Guard, the attendees and participants included Coast Guardsmen and Auxiliarists. The U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard of Sector New York presented the colors while Auxiliarist Louis DiLeo, principal trumpeter and vocalist for the Auxiliary Band, performed an inspirational singing of the Star-Spangled Banner. Father Mark Bozzuti-Jones of Trinity Church performed the blessing of Hamilton's grave, followed by the presentation of the traditional memorial wreath sponsored by the Museum of American Finance. The ceremony concluded with the playing of taps by DiLeo on the trumpet.
This was the second time DiLeo has sung the Star Spangled Banner and sounded taps for a Hamiltonian Celebration. "Singing the National Anthem and sounding Taps at the grave of Alexander Hamilton was a great honor,“ comments DiLeo. “The opportunity to support the Coast Guard in paying tribute to its founder at this ceremony could only have been afforded to me as a member of the USCG Auxiliary Band.
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Happy Birthday Mr. Hamilton!
By John Sasso
Coast Guardsmen from Sector New York salute during the ceremony honoring Alexander Hamilton's 225th Birthday. USCG Photo by PA3 Frank Iannazzo-Simmons.
12 OVER THE BOW - Winter 2015