Planking Ceremony of Flotilla 11-13
By Ken Fisher
As the Auxiliary celebrated its 75th anniversary, history was being made in a boating community within New York City on November 18, 2014. A new United States Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla would be calling the Sheepshead Bay Community its home.
Based out of a building that dates back into the 1800s and the home of the Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club, Flotilla 11-13 will be embarking upon key Coast Guard missions in support of the local Sheepshead Bay Community.
Located off the Rockaway Inlet, Sheepshead Bay is an area housing several hundred recreational boats. There is also a fleet of commercial vessels that carry hundreds of people weekly on fishing trips besides pleasure cruises.
Kingsborough Community College has a maritime program just across the bay. Adjacent to the school on the Rockaway Inlet side is a magnet known as Manhattan Beach which in combination with the famous sands of nearby Coney Island Beach, draws thousands of people of all ages to the shore and water.
In the public education field, Flotilla 11-13 has already forged a partnership with Public School 206 where Auxliarists will continue to provide marine safety and other approved educational programs to the students.
With the help of our members and friends, Flotilla 11-13 is hoping to see this program expand throughout the Brooklyn school community.
Story continued on next page.
COMO Alex Malewski (left) administers the Oath of Office to Shmuel Gajer (center right), FC, and Kenneth Fisher (right), VFC of 11-13 during the Planking Ceremony as District Captain Gerard Andrews looks on. USCG Auxiliary Photo by Steve Solomonson.
Featured Articles
28 OVER THE BOW - Winter 2015