������������������� Photo <strong>and</strong> Article by Jean Geiger, ADSO-PA ������������ �� �����������
���������� Article <strong>and</strong> Photos by John LaPorta, SO-PA ��������������������������������������������������� ������������������� Marine Safety Officer Bill Nelson, <strong>District</strong> 1SR, <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> <strong>Auxiliary</strong>, received an invitation from the NYS Parks Department inviting the <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> <strong>Auxiliary</strong> to attend the Heckscher State Park Spring Earth Day Festival. Bill extended the invitation to the local <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> <strong>Auxiliary</strong>, Division 1, Fire Isl<strong>and</strong>, NY <strong>and</strong> local <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Units. Over forty Active Duty <strong>and</strong> <strong>Auxiliary</strong> <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> personnel participated in the Earth Day Celebration. We combined our resources <strong>and</strong> personnel <strong>and</strong> worked as a team. Approximately 4,000 people attended <strong>and</strong> we made approximately 800 contacts. It presented a great opportunity for to us to impact our community. Active Duty, MST2 Nathaniel Dibley MSD Coram, <strong>and</strong> MST 1 Gregory Steiger MST1 from Recruiting Station Wantagh, st<strong>and</strong> ready in front of <strong>US</strong>CG Incident Comm<strong>and</strong> Response Vehicle. at the demonstrations. Marine Safety Staff Officer, Robert Steel, Division 1, <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> <strong>Auxiliary</strong> said, “This 41st Anniversary of Earth Day Event proved to be the perfect venue for the <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> <strong>Auxiliary</strong> to educate the public in the area of Marine Safety <strong>and</strong> Environmental Protection, as well as, to promote the Recreational Boater Safety Mission.” The <strong>US</strong>CG Aids to Navigation Team Moriches brought a <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> buoy tender vessel <strong>and</strong> <strong>US</strong>CG Marine Safety Detachment, Coram brought several Incident Comm<strong>and</strong> Response Vehicles. <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> personnel were on h<strong>and</strong> answering questions, gave vessel tours, <strong>and</strong> held life jacket demonstrations. As parents looked on, young festival goers had a lot of fun racing each other as they put on life jackets. The importance of wearing life jackets was stressed <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> characters, Officer Snook, PFD Popeye, Dolphin, <strong>and</strong> PDF P<strong>and</strong>a were there. They were a hit <strong>and</strong> the public couldn’t get enough of them. They worked non-stop, passing out environmental themed coloring books, stickers <strong>and</strong> posing for photographs with festival goers. Both Auxiliarists <strong>and</strong> Active Duty members took turns in the costumes. (On right) Marine Safety Officer Bill Nelson, <strong>District</strong> 1SR, CG <strong>Auxiliary</strong>, starts the day off by addressing the crew. Young festival goers had a lot of fun racing each other as they put on life jackets. (From left to right) Lieutenant David Barnes, <strong>US</strong>CG, Supervisor, <strong>and</strong> Bill Nelson, ADSO-MS, <strong>District</strong> 1SR, CG <strong>Auxiliary</strong>. ������������ �� �����������
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