hen considering the image of the
Coast Guard Auxiliary, one most
often thinks of the traditional four cornerstones: surface and air operations, public education, vessel examinations, and fellowship. These elements are universally understood and readily communicable.
But for a number of years, I have witnessed the development of what may be considered a fifth cornerstone -- one with enormous potential for generating good will and networking among various local community-based organizations. It's called the Division 14 Community Outreach Program. The tremendous energy and dedication of time and resources driving the development of this program can be said to be embodied in the indomitable spirit of one leading individual, Jane Pride, SO-PA, Division 14.
Ms. Pride joined the Auxiliary in 2004, and as my wife, she was regaled by me with innumerable stories of past efforts centered around traditional Public Affairs events such as holiday parades, boat shows, fleet week and county fair exhibits, where copious amounts of literature were distributed to event participants, booth visitors and spectators.
To Jane Pride however, there was something missing, and her natural affinity for children led to an explosive burst of effort aimed specifically and primarily at our nation’s most precious resource, our communities’ children. She saw instinctively that the effort that she conceived dovetailed perfectly into the Vessel Exam oriented Kids Don’t Float program, centered on children’s lifejackets and our Young Boaters public education endeavors. Her primary tool is and has been the greatly enhanced children’s coloring book entitled Learn About the United States Coast Guard.
A very appreciative organization that Jane Pride, Nick Litrell, DCDR, Division 14, and I recently visited was Richmond University Medical Center. We arrived at the pediatric ward on Thanksgiving morning. The impact of our visit on the families who could not fully celebrate at home is incredibly hard to describe. Needless to say, we were heartily invited to return.
We experienced the same reaction at Staten Island University Hospital North in January of this year, and at Keen Ball Day, located on Ward’s Island, and sponsored by the Office For People With Developmental Disabilities, a New York State agency. Finally, we were privileged to attend Fun Day in Manhattan, sponsored by ROMP, an organization that benefits children with Down syndrome.
We in the Auxiliary have had outreach programs dedicated to reaching children in the past. The most notable and perhaps most visible of these has been the appearance and use of “Coastie”, the remotely operated, wheeled patrol boat at various Public Affairs
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28 OVER THE BOW - Spring 2016