Year of the Coast Guard

Year of the Coast Guard

by guest contributor Julia Hobbes
Photo Credit: Jeff Malet

On April 12, the United States Navy Memorial launched Year of the Coast Guard,  a yearlong exhibition honoring the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard.  The exhibit opened to civilians and military alike following the annual Blessing of the Fleets celebration, a highlight of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. Commandant, USCG, U.S. Navy Memorial President & CEO VADM John Totushek, along with Year of the Coast Guard Chair VADM Harvey Johnson, USCG (Ret.), fmr. Commander, Coast Guard Area Pacific inaugurated the exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Memorial’s Naval Heritage Center

Totushek-Papp-Johnson

Harvey Johnson, USCG (Ret.), fmr. Commander, Coast Guard Area Pacific; U.S. Navy Memorial President, VADM John Totushek; and Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. Commandant, USCG

“The US Navy Memorial honors and supports the men and women of all the sea services. The US Coast Guard has been the Navy’s partner since Alexander Hamilton first voiced the need for a strong Navy and a sea going enforcer of laws which is the Coast Guard. It is our honor to host the Year of the Coast Guard at the Memorial,” said VADM John Totushek, USN (Ret.), President & CEO of US Navy Memorial Foundation.

One of the priceless artifacts the Coast Guard provided for the exhibition is a late 19th century lighthouse lens made of cut and polished glass prisms that were designed to concentrate light far out to sea. It’s estimated value is $200,000. The exhibition also features a Lyle gun, a short, squat brass cannon that was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to lob a small projectile out to stranded and sinking ships. The sailors would then tie that rope off and life-saving station members ashore would send out a breeches buoy, as part of the rescue operation to tow back to shore safely.

John Harvey, Toby Mack

U.S. Navy Memorial Chairman, Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr, USN (Ret) & Navy Memorial board member, Toby Mack

The exhibit also honors the SPARs, the Coast Guard’s women’s reserve, with a World War II SPARs dress uniform as well as one of their basketball uniforms on display. 

This is not the first time the Navy Memorial has paid homage to Team Coast Guard. Every year, the Navy Memorial honors Sea Service veterans at the Lone Sailor Awards, many of which have been prominent members of the Coast Guard.  Past Lone Sailor Award recipients from the Coast Guard include:  J.D. Power, Ted Turner, and Beau, Lloyd, & Jeff Bridges.

Papp, Johnson,PX Kelley

 Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. Commandant, USCG; Year of the Coast Guard ChairVADM Harvey Johnson, USCG (Ret.), fmr. Commander, Coast Guard Area Pacific; and General Paul X. Kelley, 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps and 2013 Lone Sailor Award recipient

Hollywood on the Potomac sat down with actor Beau Bridges, previous recipient of the Lone Sailor Award:

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