NCGMA Newsletter 2023 (Summer)

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A FAMILY AFFAIR Honoring their late father, retired United States Coast Guard Captain Graeme Mann, and the final wishes of their mother, Barbara Mann, three siblings, Wilson, Gary, and Emily joined together to make a gift to the National Coast Guard Museum. In their own words, here is their story. Q: What did the Coast Guard mean to you and your family while you were growing up? A: Being in the Coast Guard meant that no matter where my parents were stationed, they had an instant “Coastie” family. When my father graduated from the Coast Guard Academy, his first assignment was in Honolulu, Hawaii, on a buoy tender. When they arrived, my mother instantly had 14 “sisters,” many were also young newly married Coast Guard wives. They all had nicknames for each other indicating instant friendships. My mother’s nickname was “Mighty Mouse” because of her petite size and boundless energy. This was so important for wives and friends to help each other and mentor each other while the husbands were out at sea for up to 6 months at a time. Our father grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with one older brother, one younger brother, and two younger sisters. The family didn’t have much money during the depression. The Coast Guard gave him the ability to break out of a meager lifestyle—to provide an opportunity for a very rewarding career. He was the first child in his family to have the opportunity to go to college. He appreciated the opportunity to complete his grad work at MIT and finished with a Masters in Naval Architecture and Naval Engineering. Even though he was an officer, he was a true mechanic and loved hands-on work. He published a paper on propulsion drive shaft improvements, worked on the gas turbine propulsion for the Hamilton high speed cutter class, and worked on the propulsion design for the Polar Star and Polar Sea. But his true home was down in the engine room. While in port or at the shipyards, he would get calls after hours to troubleshoot problems, debate options, and talk through potential solutions. But when the ship called exclaiming “Redbugs in the Engine Room, we need your help!”—well, that meant there were lobsters on board. Ultimately being a part of the Coast Guard meant that there was no stronger unit than our family. We had no choice but to cling together and get through whatever we needed to because we moved so often that we were the only real constant in each other’s lives. The three of us are completely different and yet full of profound love, respect, and compassion for one another—as we were of our parents, in part because of our shared Coast Guard experience. Q: With so many important philanthropic opportunities, what made you choose to support the National Coast Guard Museum? A: Our father adored being in the Coast Guard. His career, along with his family, was truly his pride and joy. And my mother was right there with him all the time. It would not even occur to us to do otherwise. We knew nothing about the museum, but shortly before our mother died, she showed us a magazine article and expressed her wish to contribute. She started the ball rolling, and it was an honor for us to make this gift as a family. Q: What is the funniest family memory you would like to share with our readers to bring to life your father and mother? A: We loved visiting my father on his various ships, and I (Emily) am so sentimental about that particular wardroom smell to this day. I could pinpoint it anywhere, and it always brings me joy because it meant he was home. Q: What is your hope for the National Coast Guard Museum? A: The Nation knows so much about the other branches of the Armed Forces because of their involvement in war, and, to a certain extent, not many of our friends growing up were familiar with the Coast Guard either. When asked why he chose the Coast Guard, our father said, “It’s about saving lives, not taking them.” We hope this museum shares the great works achieved by the Coast Guard community and their families. And as education has always been important to our family, so too do we hope this museum will educate people to the important mission of the United States Coast Guard. PAGE 10 NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION
NCGMA IN SEATTLE On June 29, retired United States Coast Guard Captain Wes Pulver, National Coast Guard Museum Association President, hosted a reception at the Mercer Island VFW Post in Seattle, Washington. Coast Guard retirees, auxiliarists, activeduty members, reservists, and friends of the Washington region Coast Guard turned out to enjoy cold libations and a barbeque-style meal including chopped pork, pulled chicken, beans, and coleslaw prepared by Tacoma’s Famous Dave’s restaurant. With a reunion-like atmosphere, Coasties kicked off the evening by sharing sea-stories, reminiscing with former Service mates, building new friendships, and even spinning a few yarns. After the plates were finished, attendees were updated on the current construction progress for the National Coast Guard Museum and laid out the comprehensive projected path toward construction completion and the Museum’s opening ceremonies. Also discussed was the evolution of the Long Blue Line, the Coast Guard retirees’ quarterly magazine. As an important avenue of communication for the Coast Guard, which is produced by the Museum Association, the Long Blue Line has become a cherished publication for the entire Coast Guard community. As the museum heads closer to opening day, the Museum Association is exploring options to keep the magazine intact and explore how its content could be expanded—keeping readers informed on upcoming events and programming at the National Coast Guard Museum, regional Coast Guard museums, and partnered maritime museums. As momentum in the building of the National Coast Guard Museum continues—with its many ways to support the project, share incredible Coast Guard stories, develop future exhibits, and expand the Long Blue Line—the National Coast Guard Museum Association will continue to host events to get the word out to our community and solicit ideas, stories, and feedback. We look forward to sharing a meal and hearing from you at our next event. Pulver concluded the evening by adding, “Just as the Nation is thankful for their service, I am honored to have the opportunity to be part of building the National Coast Guard Museum to preserve the rich history of the United States Coast Guard and to raise awareness and appreciation of this indispensable Service for generations to come.” NCGMA PARTNERSHIP WITH FREEWILL August is National Make-A-Will Month, and creating a will is one of the best ways to plan for the future, safeguard your loved ones as well as your assets, and have a lasting impact on causes important to you. That’s why the National Coast Guard Museum Association has joined the FreeWill community. With its easy-to-use online estate planning tool, FreeWill allows you to support the National Coast Guard Museum in a way that works best for you. FreeWill makes estate planning friendly, simple, and intuitive—and it’s totally free. Freewill estate plans are 100% legal and specifically tailored to your jurisdiction. During last year’s Make-A- Will Month, more than 70,000 people trusted them to create their will at no cost and protect what they value most. And FreeWill makes charitable giving especially easy. To date, more than $7.8 billion has been designated to nonprofit organizations through FreeWill. By creating a legally binding document that outlines your wishes, you can ensure that your loved ones are taken care of and that your estate is distributed according to your specific instructions. A will provides clarity, minimizes potential conflicts, and prevents the state from making decisions regarding your estate. It empowers you to have control over the disposition of your assets and provides peace of mind. Many people who create their estate plans also choose to leave a gift to a cause they care about, and we hope you’ll consider doing the same. It’s never too soon to consider the legacy you want to leave behind—one that will have meaningful impact on the creation of the National Coast Guard Museum. Join thousands of donors in establishing a will that includes a charitable donation using FreeWill. www.freewill.com/ncgma SUMMER 2023 PAGE 11
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NCGMA Newsletter 2023 (Summer)

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