NCGMA Newsletter 2023 WINTER

WINTER 2023
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Construction Update
Moving the Needle:
$2.5M Gift from the
Coast Guard Foundation
It Takes a Nation: New
Rendering of the Wall of
Philanthropy
Exhibits: Hurricane Katrina
Immersive Gallery
STORIES
THAT
MATTER
WINTER 2023
PAGE 1

FROM THE PRESIDENT:
GREAT THINGS LIE AHEAD
As we near the end of the first quarter of the year, we are very excited about what’s
to come in 2023. However, before we look ahead, let’s take a quick moment to
reflect on some of the incredible strides we made in 2022.
As we rung in last year, we had just surpassed the halfway point of our $150M
goal. By summer, private donations and a $50 million grant authorized in the
2022 Federal Omnibus Spending Bill pushed our campaign past $131M. With
this incredible support, we were able to start our first phase of construction, bulkhead
and fill, over the summer. Subsequently, the Coast Guard Foundation generously
pledged $2.5M which pushed us over $135M of our $150M goal. The Coast
Guard Foundation’s mission of honoring the Coast Guard and its contributions to
our Nation aligned with the objectives of the National Coast Guard Museum, and
their executive team unanimously approved this extremely generous donation. By
the end of 2022, due to your generosity, we exceeded $10M in private donations
during the year and have entered 2023 with unprecedented momentum.
Bulkhead and fill construction is on schedule and will be completed this Spring.
With the Museum’s footprint completed, we are planning to start construction on
the building itself— focused on subterranean work—as early as this upcoming
summer. To ensure our success, a donor (who has asked to remain anonymous for
the time being) has pledged a $5M challenge gift to inspire other commitments at
the seven-figure level and help deliver the Museum to the Coast Guard on time.
This is a transformational opportunity for the project. Please reach out to us if you
would like to learn more.
We are also excited to share the first photorealistic rendering of our Wall of
Philanthropy. It will be located at the top of the awe-inspiring Atrium staircase and
immediately adjacent to the doors of the Quarterdeck—where every visitor’s journey
into the history of the Coast Guard will begin. As with any museum of this magnitude,
the Wall of Philanthropy feature is integral. Not only does it provide a meaningful
way to preserve a legacy, but it also serves as a reminder of the positive impact
that philanthropy has had on making initiatives like ours come to life. It will serve as
a source of inspiration for current and future generations to continue the practice of
giving back to their communities. It also presents an opportunity for organizations
and individuals to showcase their philanthropic efforts or connection to our Coast
Guard. We’d like to thank all of those who have already secured their place on the
Wall of Philanthropy. Our team is ready to help if you want to reserve your place
on the Wall and join those who have also given so generously.
Here’s to continued success for another momentous year.
CAPT Wes Pulver, USCG (Ret.)
President
PAGE National 2 Coast Guard Museum Association
SQUARING
UP THE
YARDS
MUSEUM
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
The area around the National Coast Guard
Museum’s construction office in New
London, Connecticut’s Coast Guard City, is
bustling with activity. Horns sound in the distance
from the Long Island and Block Island ferries as
NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

Museum construction
site image taken on
November 24, 2022.
View is northward looking
up the Thames River from
City Pier Plaza in New
London, CT
Linda Fagan said, “For 232 years, the Coast
Guard has protected the United States maritime
safety, security, and economic prosperity. We
haven’t had the place to tell those stories to the
American public that we serve—and arguably,
we haven’t had a place to honor those stories
for ourselves.” With those few eloquent words,
ADM Fagan signified the importance of
stepping across the delineation mark between
the intellection of a National Coast Guard
Museum and its physical construction.
After the Keel Laying Ceremony, it was
immediately back to work—construction
began one month later. The National Coast
Guard Museum Association continues to push
forward in its fundraising efforts and managing
the building’s construction.
From September 2022 to
February 2023, museum
construction will have met
these milestones:
they approach the terminal, delivering people
only a short walk from the site. Amtrak and
Connecticut Shoreline East trains glide in and
out as they make their routes between Boston
and New York, dropping passengers off on
what will be the doorstep to the National
Coast Guard Museum. Along the waterfront,
the majestic Barque EAGLE’s new home berth
is steps away at the New London City Pier. At
the construction site equipment is energized,
men and women are hard at work, the crane
is lifting and moving concrete, and the site is
beginning to take shape—the National Coast
Guard Museum is underway.
The start of the initial construction phase is
due to the National Coast Guard Museum
Association’s prodigious year of fundraising.
Generous private donations, strong partnerships
with the State of Connecticut and the City of
New London coupled with tremendous support
of the Connecticut Congressional delegation,
and a $50 million grant authorized in the
2022 Federal Omnibus Spending Bill tipped the
construction of the Museum past the pivot point
between its design phase and into its building
construction and exhibit fabrication stages. To
date, $135 million has been committed to the
project and the National Coast Guard Museum
continues to hone in on its goal of $150 million
for building construction and additional funding
for post-occupancy operations.
These successes propelled this project forward
and gave great reason to celebrate. On a bright
August day, more than 500 people gathered
on City Pier Plaza near the Museum site and
took part in a historic moment—the Museum’s
Keel Laying Ceremony. While presiding over the
ceremony, Coast Guard Commandant ADM
September 23, 2022
Bulkhead & Fill Construction
site mobilization begins
October 17, 2022
Barge and crane arrived
onsite. Barge and crane used
for demolition work, supply
storage, and to drive steel
sheet piles for bulkhead.
October 28, 2022
Phase 1 (West side) of
Bulkhead & Fill project
complete, Phase 2 (East side)
begins.
November 25, 2022
First sheet pile driven. Sheet
piles will be driven to form
an outer bulkhead and inner
bulkhead, which will then be
filled in to create additional
land for Museum building
site.
January 31, 2023
Sheet piles complete.
WINTER 2023
PAGE 3

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN ALL AMERICANS KNOW
THE SERVICE’S STORIES OF HEROISM AND MISSION EXCELLENCE.
—COAST GUARD FOUNDATION PRESIDENT SUSAN LUDWIG
PAGE 4
NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

A NATIONAL MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE
HISTORY, MISSIONS, AND PEOPLE OF THE
COAST GUARD IS LONG OVERDUE, AND IT IS
OUR DISTINCT HONOR TO SUPPORT THE COAST
GUARD MUSEUM PROJECT IN NEW LONDON.
—COAST GUARD FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
SUSAN LUDWIG
MOVING THE NEEDLE
The Coast Guard Foundation has a long,
proud history of partnership with the
Coast Guard. At its annual meeting this past
November, the Coast Guard Foundation
committed $2.5 million as a principal level
investment in the future National Coast Guard
Museum.
“A national museum dedicated to the history,
missions, and people of the Coast Guard is
long overdue, and it is our distinct honor to
support the Coast Guard Museum project in
New London,” said Coast Guard Foundation
President Susan Ludwig. “We look forward
to the day when all Americans know the
Service’s stories of heroism and mission
excellence.”
The Coast Guard Foundation’s mission
is rooted in honoring the Coast Guard’s
contributions to our Nation by addressing
the Service’s highest priority needs for its
members and families. This investment in the
National Coast Guard Museum will allow the
Coast Guard community to raise awareness,
educate, and engage the public about the
Coast Guard’s long, storied tradition of
excellence. With this gift, the Foundation also
sees an opportunity to shine a bright light on
the future of the Service and inspire future
Coast Guard members and families to serve.
This gift reinforces ADM Fagan’s message
that the National Coast Guard Museum is
the Coast Guard’s top philanthropic priority
and brings the total raised by the Museum
Association to more than $135M – 90%
toward its total fundraising goal.
Coast Guard Foundation President Susan Ludwig and Chairman Tom Allegretti (center) at the Texas Salutes the
Coast Guard event in Houston, TX, Nov. 4. At the event, Allegretti announced the Foundation’s commitment of $2.5
million to support the construction of the National Coast Guard Museum. Also pictured are: Coast Guard District
Eight Commander Rear Admiral Richard Timme, Atlantic Area Commander Vice Admiral Kevin Lunday, and Vice
Commandant Admiral Steve Poulin (left) and Commander James Connor, Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, and
Lieutenant Daniel Chase (right) from Coast Guard Air Station Houston. Air Station Houston was given a Foundation
award for rescuing nine people from a burning oil rig in Sabine Pass, TX, on Feb. 24, 2022.
WINTER 2023
PAGE 5

WHY I GIVE
During the summers growing up in Snug
Harbor, Rhode Island, Tim Greene and his
siblings William (Billy), Michael, Beth, and Keli
were inextricably linked to the ocean.
When his eldest brother, Billy, enlisted in the
Coast Guard in the late 1970s, he unknowingly
planted a seed that would be instrumental to
Tim’s future. At the time of Billy’s enlistment,
Tim had just entered high school. And like
many young teens, Tim didn’t have overly
deep thoughts about a distant career. As Tim
advanced through high school, stories of his
brother’s Coast Guard service began to take
root.
The first stories of Billy’s adventures that made
its way back to Tim was when Billy was
stationed on the 82-foot cutter Point Jackson
in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Soon after that
came accounts of Billy’s time at Woods Hole,
Massachusetts, when he attended Aviation
Technician “A” school. And later, anecdotes
of Billy stationed at Opa-locka, Florida, as an
early crew member for the HU-25 Falcon fleet.
As a senior in high school, Tim was feeling
adrift, and his graduation date was closing in.
One of his best friends, who had a cousin in
the Coast Guard, suggested they enlist after
high school. Because of Billy’s rousing Coast
Guard tales, and the deep respect he fostered
for his brother, Tim was all in. In April 1984, at
the age of 17, Tim enlisted with his friend. Tim
naively reckoned he could be stationed at Point
Judith, RI, and not have to stray too far from
the idyllic seaside landscapes he knew so well.
He figured he would pilot his family’s 22-foot
Mako boat to and from the Point Judith Coast
Guard station each day to report for duty. It
all made sense. By August, Tim and his best
friend were headed off to boot camp in Cape
May, New Jersey—unaware of the realities of
the military.
After boot camp, Tim was not stationed in Point
Judith. He quickly understood that the Coast
Guard assigns you to where they need you—
not where you desire to go. His first assignment
was on the United States Coast Guard Cutter
Diligence, homeported in Cape Canaveral,
Florida—more than 1,200 miles away from
familiar Snug Harbor. Initially disappointed
about the distant location, Tim soon found his
MY BROTHER WAS THE BEST, A
REALLY GOOD GUY WHO LOVED THE
COAST GUARD
assignment on Diligence rewarding. It became
instrumental to his growth as an adult and the
entire experience was quite profound.
Diligence’s deployments lasted about thirty
days. One of the primary missions of Diligence
was the prevention of illegal migration, and
what Tim witnessed on those seas opened
his eyes. In Tim’s words, “Seeing 150 souls
loaded onto a small, very unstable sailboat
risking everything to try to make it to the
United States—very impactful.” He began to
fully appreciate the comforts and freedoms
afforded to him having been born in the United
States. After spending time on Diligence, Tim
was to report to Boatswains Mate “A” school
in Yorktown, Virginia. While still in port a
few weeks shy of his Virginia departure, the
Space Shuttle Challenger exploded across the
Floridian sky.
After BM “A” school, Tim was stationed on
the 95-foot patrol boat Cape York in Key
West, Florida. There were some search and
rescue operations but it being the mid-1980s,
off the coast of Florida, many of the patrol
boat’s missions were drug interdictions. One
interdiction that stands out for Tim is the 133-
foot coast freighter Macado Maru. Tim recalls,
“The ship had 1,850 lbs. of cocaine hidden in
a compartment below the anchor locker. The
smugglers were pretty crafty in the way they hid
the contraband. We had to take the ship back
to Key West and remove some of the chain
from the locker before we got access into the
compartment containing the drugs. As arresting
officer on the boarding team, I had to testify in
front of a grand jury and then subsequently at
the trials of the captain and first mate. Again,
very impactful for a 20-year-old.”
For the most part, Tim and Billy’s Coast Guard
journeys ran parallel courses, but they did
cross paths on occasion. Unfortunately, their
overlapping Coast Guard careers were to be
short-lived. While Billy was stationed at Opalocka,
he was diagnosed with a terminal brain
tumor that would require a medical discharge.
But to Billy, the Coast Guard meant everything.
He was on course to being a lifer. He fought
heart and soul trying to find a way to remain
in the Service. After exhausting all possibilities,
Billy was discharged. About 10 years after
leaving the Coast Guard, Billy crossed the bar.
PAGE 6
NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

But not before having two fantastic children.
“My brother was the best, a really good guy
who loved the Coast Guard,” Tim fondly
recalls.
After Tim’s four-year commitment, he did not
reenlist. He decided to attend the University of
South Florida, where he received his bachelor’s
degree in political science. He began working
for the State of Florida in law enforcement—all
the while contemplating law school. In 1999,
Tim learned about a promising business
opportunity from his other brother, Michael.
It was to be the second franchisee of a new
company called “PODS” (Portable On
Demand Storage). Today, almost everyone
has seen a PODS container in their travels.
And there is a good chance it was one of
Tim and Michael’s, especially if it was in the
New England region. No longer in the PODS
business, Tim and his family branched out into
other businesses: Dunkin’ Donuts, Bagster,
and R&R Freight Logistics to name a few.
When asked about how the Coast Guard had
influenced him after his time in the Service, Tim
said, “This is what I needed. In those four years,
it taught me everything.”
Throughout the years, Tim kept Billy close to
his heart. He knew he wanted to do something
special in remembrance of his brother. Only
he had not determined what that “something”
was. He knew he wanted a place for Billy’s
children, and now his grandchildren, to be able
to go and understand the values Billy believed
in. A place where they, too, could make that
I LIKE THE IDEA OF VETERANS BEING
ABLE TO VISIT THE MUSEUM AND BE
REMINDED OF THE GOOD WORK
THEY DID WHILE IN THE SERVICE—
AND THE CONTINUED GOOD WORK
OF CURRENT SERVICE MEMBERS.
connection between their father (or grandfather)
and the Coast Guard. It was an encounter with
a former Commandant of the Coast Guard who
suggested that he reach out to the Museum
Association to see what options were available.
After Tim connected with our Association, he
made a generous donation in honor of his brother
securing the naming opportunity for the Oil Spill
Response exhibit, which will feature a HU-25
Falcon Jet, and will be located in the Protectors
of the Environment wing of the National Coast
Guard Museum. This act of generosity will also list
his brother on the Wall of Philanthropy. His nieces,
nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews will
now have “that place.” For Tim, this was about
preserving the memory of his brother, but he also
fully recognizes the Museum’s implications.
Tim said, “I think it is important for the
general public to be reminded of the sheer
scope of the Coast Guard’s missions. It’s
truly amazing to think of all the missions
that the Coast Guard performs throughout
the world. In addition to that, I like the
idea of veterans being able to visit the
museum and be reminded of the good
work they did while in the Service—and
the continued good work of current service
members.” We look forward to seeing Tim
and his family at the Museum. Fair winds
and following seas to Aviation Electronics
Technician Second Class William “Billy”
Greene.
WINTER 2023
PAGE 7

IT TAKES A NATION
To borrow from the idiom “It takes a village,”
this project has benefited greatly from the
generosity of donors in all 50 states—so
as one might expect when fundraising for a
national museum, “It takes a Nation.”
The National Coast Guard Museum atrium is
going to be nothing less than spectacular. As
soon as visitors enter the museum from New
London’s City Pier Plaza, the Coast Guard
experience will spark their imagination. The
atrium will be a five-story, open air space
featuring a full-size HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
suspended in an action stance from the ceiling.
A rescue swimmer hovers beneath the helicopter
on a hoisting cable showcasing the Coast
Guard mission as lifesavers around the globe.
Glass walls will allow the spacious area to be
filled with natural light and provide a view of
the lively waterfront—the distinction between
the interior and the maritime scenery outside
has been thoughtfully designed to be blurred.
A grand staircase will spiral upwards to the
Quarter Deck and the entrance to the exhibits.
As visitors soak in the rescue experience and
reach the pinnacle of the staircase, the first
item in their line of sight is the Museum’s Wall
of Philanthropy. What a perfect setting to
recognize those who have helped make the
National Coast Guard Museum a place for
all to enjoy—a place where visitors will make
lasting memories and deep connections to the
values and missions of the United States Coast
Guard—truly a community space.
Why is the Wall of Philanthropy important? At
first glance, the Wall of Philanthropy provides
a place for the Museum to recognize its highwater
mark donors, but it accomplishes much
more. If you look closer, the Wall showcases
the value of having individuals, groups, and
organizations working together towards a
common, greater goal. It serves as a reminder
of the positive impact philanthropy can have
on a community and will be the inspiration for
current and future generations regarding the
importance of giving back. Lastly, we hope it
becomes a meaningful way for Coast Guard
PAGE 8
NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

GIVING CIRCLES
ALEXANDER
HAMILTON
1
$2.5M+
DOUGLAS
MUNRO
2
families to preserve a legacy, a call to serve—
inspiring many generations to come.
The idea of preserving a legacy can be
illustrated by two of our recent donors, CDR
Frank Dean, USCGR (Ret.) and annuitant Mrs.
Kathy Grande, both of whom have secured
a spot on the wall of philanthropy and each
having very different reasons for giving. Dean
and Grande were the key participants in our
$200,000 year-end matching gift challenge.
Being a Reservist, when Frank found out the
Museum was going to showcase the importance
of ALL Coast Guard workforces, he was ecstatic.
He believes the Museum will help spread the
word and share the diverse mission of the Coast
Guard. Kathy made a gift to honor her late
husband USCG LT Anthony Grande. She said,
“Anthony carried his Coast Guard experience
with him all his life. He was so proud of having
served. I wanted to find a way to honor him.”
Recognizing these donors who drive the effort
to build the museum has been a hallmark of the
National Coast Guard Museum Association’s
capital campaign. To date, nearly 40 Coast
Guard retirees, veterans, annuitants, and
auxiliarists from all backgrounds have made
commitments of $50,000 or more to secure a
place on the Wall of Philanthropy. We encourage
you to “Join Us” too. There are five giving levels,
each named for a hero from the predecessor
Services and/or the modern Coast Guard. These
exceptional leaders, along with donors who went
above and beyond, will soon have a permanent
reminder of their generosity and service to our
Nation on the Museum’s Wall of Philanthropy.
The professional staff at the Museum Association
can help you explore different methods of
giving and opportunities for support. For more
information, contact Katherine Bainbridge at
kbainbridge@coastguardmuseum.org
$1M - $2,499,999
IDA
LEWIS
$250,000 - $999,999
RICHARD
ETHERIDGE
$100,000 - $249,999
ELLSWORTH
BERTHOLF
$50,000 - $99,999
3
4
5
WINTER 2023
PAGE 9

INSIDE THE EXHIBITS
HURRICANE KATRINA IMMERSIVE GALLERY
Hurricane Katrina, an Atlantic hurricane that
fluctuated between a category 3 and a
category 5, made landfall over southeast
Louisiana and Mississippi in late August 2005
wreaking havoc on the area.
Although New Orleans had been spared
a direct hit by Katrina’s winds, it was not
so fortunate escaping its catastrophic 10
inches of rainfall and storm surge. The levee
system in New Orleans that held back the
waters of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake
Borgne were breached—leaving the city
flooded.
While some federal agencies had been criticized
for their slow response, the Coast Guard lived
up to its motto, Semper Paratus (Always Ready).
Having dispatched rescue crews to the region
well ahead of the storm’s landfall, the Coast
Guard immediately began airborne and
waterborne search and rescue efforts.
The Katrina Immersive Gallery, located on
the Museum’s Safety Deck, gives visitors a
glimpse into the chaos and devastation left
in the aftermath of Katrina and the dauntless
rescue efforts led by the Coast Guard. Upon
entering the gallery, visitors are surrounded
by life-sized dioramas of Coast Guard
operations and are brought into the action.
To the left, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer
pulls a stranded family from a rooftop,
loading them into helicopter rescue basket
suspended from the ceiling. To the right, a
punt boat (small, flat bottom boat) aids the
evacuation as it delivers citizens to safety.
PAGE 10
NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

SAFETY DECK 02
LIFESAVERS AROUND THE GLOBE
Projectors broadcast undulating images of
the fl oodwater’s surface onto the exhibit’s
fl oor. This, alongside full-scale street signs
and telephone poles (designed as if partially
submerged), gives the viewer a sense of the
fl oodwater’s murky depths. Situated behind
the punt boat diorama is a video display wall
telling the story of the Coast Guard’s lifesaving
efforts and the incredible amount of precise
coordination it takes to overcome challenges
during rescue missions of this scale.
DECK
2
location
WINTER 2023
PAGE 11

BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Susan J. Curtin
CHAIR
Partner, Power Family Enterprises
CAPT Wes Pulver, USCG (Ret.)
PRESIDENT
National Coast Guard Museum Association
RADM Richard M. Larrabee, USCG (Ret.)
TREASURER
Past Director, Ports Department, the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey
CDR Kevin Harkins, Ph.D., USCG (Ret.)
SECRETARY
CEO, Harkcon, Inc.
Jeff Kingsley
Known
Steve Lovelette
President, JMB Financial Advisors
ADM James M. Loy, USCG (Ret.)
21st Commandant of the USCG
MCPOCG Vincent W. Patton, Ed.D., USCG (Ret.)
Northeast Maritime Institute
Michael Rauh
Retired President and CEO, Chelsea Groton Bank
RADM Richard W. Schneider Ph.D., USCGR (Ret.)
President Emeritus, Norwich University
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
Gordy Bunch, Chair
ADM Thad W. Allen, USCG (Ret.)
Brandy Birtcher
The Honorable Andrew H. Card, Jr.
The Honorable Michael Chertoff
RADM Tom Gilmour, USCG (Ret.)
Michael Greenwald
The Honorable Michael P. Jackson
The Honorable Jeh C. Johnson
RADM Mary Landry, USCG (Ret.)
Sarah Miller
Thomas Niles
Joe Pyne
The Honorable Thomas J. Ridge
Bob Vicente
Dave Waldmann
SECRETARIES
CIRCLE *
Thomas J. Ridge, Chair
Norm Mineta † , Co-Chair
James H. Burnley, IV
Andrew H. Card, Jr.
Michael Chertoff
Mimi Weyforth Dawson
Elizabeth Dole
Mortimer L. Downey, III
Michael P. Jackson
Jeh C. Johnson
James M. Loy
Janet A. Napolitano
Federico Peña
Paul A. Schneider
Samuel K. Skinner
Rodney E. Slater
The National Coast Guard Museum will engage, educate and inspire visitors from around the world by honoring the courage and skill of the men and women of our
Nation’s unsung Armed Service. The Museum will explore the Coast Guard’s rich history and current impact on our Nation and the world through interactive exhibits,
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) based learning experiences, leadership development programming, and public/private partnerships.
www.CoastGuardMuseum.org I info@coastguardmuseum.org I @USCGMuseum I @USCGMuseum I @USCGMuseum
PAGE 12
NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION