Current president of The Villages Coast Guard Club, Joe (and Mary) Siegel, enjoyed the birthday festivities.
More than one hundred retired Coast Guard and other military veterans from The Villages and surrounding areas assembled with their spouses and guests Saturday afternoon at the Eisenhower Rec Center in The Villages to celebrate the 224th Birthday of the United States Coast Guard. Ceremonies and a catered barbecue buffet dinner made for a festive celebration, followed by the mellow music of the La Croix duo for listening and dancing.
“The Villages Coast Guard Club began about five years ago, under the leadership of John Murphy, who was the group’s first president,” current president, Joe Siegel, said. “The Coast Guard is a relatively small military force, and we have a small club. We have about sixty members, about half of whom actively participate in club events. The group gets together quarterly to share memories and friendship. We show military-oriented films, bring in speakers on interesting military operations topics and hold a Christmas party/fundraiser. Three of our members actually found out they had been in boot camp together years ago.”
Friends Shirley and Jack Seamand, from Inverness, brought Purple Heart recipient, Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Delancey, from Pinellas Park, and his grandmother, Connie Danaway, from Homosassa, to enjoy the evening.
This birthday event was open to Villagers and non-Villagers, and guests who came from the farthest distance, plus a number of World War II veterans present, were called to the buffet table first.
Friends brought Purple Heart recipient, Marine Lance Corporal Michael Delancey, who lives in Pinellas Park, to enjoy the event. Delancey served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was wounded in action. With LCpl. Delancey were his grandmother, Connie Danaway, from Homosassa; and friends Shirley and Jack Seamand from Inverness.
Proceeds from the evening were donated to ‘K9s for Warriors’ — dedicated to providing service canines to warriors suffering from post-traumatic stress and/or traumatic brain injury as a result of post September 11 military service. Their goal is to give a ‘new leash on life’ to rescue dogs and military heroes, empowering them to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. The Coast Guard Club of The Villages planned to match the total 50/50 funds collected for the charity.
For over two centuries, the U.S. Coast Guard has protected Americans in coastal and maritime environments, at home and abroad. The military force is charged with protecting our ports and waterways; carrying out rescues and recoveries at sea, and wartime defense. Very visible recent Coast Guard services included helicopter rescues of many Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans.
Their motto is semper paratus — always prepared. Currently, about 42,000 men and women are on active Coast Guard duty performing diverse civil and military operations in maritime environments.
Founding member of the Villages Coast Guard Club John Murphy addressed the group.
Since August 4, 1790, when President George Washington signed the Act of Congress to regulate the collection of duties on ships’ tonnage and ‘goods, wares and merchandise imported into the U.S.,’ ten cutters were built to enforce U.S. customs laws, perform sea rescues and fight smugglers and pirates. Originally chartered under the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the ‘cutter service” stood alone to defend U.S. maritime interests when the Continental Navy was disbanded in 1785. Â A new Department of the Navy was not authorized until 1798.
President Woodrow Wilson combined the Lifesaving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915. It absorbed other small services and the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1939. The U.S. Coast Guard has seen combat in every conflict America has been part of since 1790.
In 1967, jurisdiction for the Coast Guard was transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of Transportation; and in 2003, it was moved to the Department of Homeland Security. Today, it is involved in drug and migrant interdiction, navigation guidance, ice operations, maritime environment preservation, search & rescue operations, law enforcement and military operations.
Chorus of Semper Paratus
We’re always ready for the call,
We place our trust in Thee.
Through surf and storm and howling gale,
High shall our purpose be.
‘Semper Paratus’ is our guide,
Our fame, our glory too.
To fight to save or fight and die,
Aye! Coast Guard we are for you!
A cake complete with the Coast Guard emblem was served.
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