P a ge 23 t o pside V olume 120 , I s s u e 2
The Coast Guard Community Festival Has Returned to Training Center Cape May ( TRACEN ) After a Three-Year Stand-Down
Article and Photos by Marty Sannino , Auxiliary Unit Coordinator - TRACEN-Cape May
Festival Entrance
On May 20th 2023 , the Cape May County Coast Guard Community Foundation and the Command staff of Training Center Cape May ( TRACEN ) welcomed the public onto the base for the first time in three years to participate in the community festival . The role of the Coast Guard Community Foundation , a non-profit organization , is to maintain a strong bond between the U . S . Coast Guard and the community . Sponsoring the annual festival is just one of the Foundation ’ s ongoing programs to bring Coast Guard and community together .
The community festival was highly successful despite intermittent rain and overcast skies . Over 3,000 visitors participated in the festival at TRACEN . The annual festival was initiated in 2015 through a collaborative effort between the Foundation and TRACEN Command to celebrate the Coast Guard ’ s presence in the Cape May , the birthplace of the Coast Guard Enlisted Corp . Moreover , it serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the Coast Guard ’ s role in protecting our nation .
Delayed return - Regrettably , the festival couldn ' t take place in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic restrictions . Despite extensive planning , the festival was scheduled to make a comeback in May 2022 . However , a Nor ' Easter struck the area that day , bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds , leading to its cancellation for the third consecutive year .
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