Featured Articles
CAPT Gordon Loebl (right) conducted the swearing-in ceremony for Judi DeMaio (left), Division Commander and Steve Ackerman (right), Division Vice Commander. USCG Auxiliary Photo.
Renewal and Commitment
By Ben Pride
In the Coast Guard Auxiliary, our tradition and mandated direction is to conduct our Changes of Watch with dignity and formality. We do so, with the knowledge that we are passing the torch of leadership onto new administrations, that intend to change the course of our various organizations if necessary.
They do so, while preserving the values and core qualities which make us unique among assemblies of citizens. These are the values and qualities which persist through periods of evolutionary changes in mission strategies and parameters, budgetary allocations, manpower resources and the like, and which have propelled us through three quarters of a century of invaluable service to the nation.
At an annual Change of Watch, those of us who are elected and appointed as officers are entrusted with our various proscribed duties, and as such, recite a solemn oath pledging ourselves to furthering a cause far greater than we are as individuals, or even as designated groups. We pledge ourselves to the work of preserving life itself, and to assisting our parent organization to do the same, while also preserving liberty and the rule of law.
As a high water event on the Auxiliary calendar, one of the very few in which the greatest of formality is required, we are indeed privileged to swear this sacred oath in the presence of friends, family members, our fellow Auxiliarists, and the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of this nation’s foremost guardian for 225 years, the United States Coast Guard.
On January 11, 2015, Division 14 had the privilege of conducting our Change of Watch Ceremony in the presence of the Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey, and the Commanding Officer of Sector New York, CAPT Gordon Loebl, USCG, CDR Laura Moose, USCG, LCDR William Walsh, USCG Station New York Commanding Officer, USCG, Mr. Paul Wittek, Master Chief (Ret.), USCG, and Mr. Anthony Barletta, Officer in Training, USCG.
Story continued on next page.
44 OVER THE BOW - Winter 2015