In advance of the Tricentennial
Celebration, the Coast Guard
undertook a $1.1 million project
to repair and renovate structures at
the landmark, according to the First
District report. During the ceremony, Zukunft and Rear Adm. Steven
Poulin, the First District commander, unveiled a 300th anniversary commemorative plaque at the
lighthouse. Zukunft also presented
lighthouse keeper Sally Snowman
the Coast Guard Commanders
Award for Civilian Service.
Battle Creek-Kalamazoo
Honors St. Joseph
Coast Guard Station
Members of the Battle Creek-Kalamazoo, Mich., Council honored
the U.S. Coast Guard Station at St.
Joseph and hosted a picnic for the
local station keepers on Sept. 13.
Following the picnic and ceremonies, during which the council
presented certificates of appreciation to station keepers, council members were treated to an
exciting ride on the station’s new
45-foot Motor Lifeboat, according
to Council President T.R. Shaw.
The boat is a high-performance
twin jet-powered craft capable of
high speeds and shallow-water
navigation. Council members got
to take the helm and drive the boat
on Lake Michigan.
Station St. Joseph is an adopted
unit of the council. Other adopted units include Navy Operational
Support Center Battle Creek and
the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
Windward Division.
Shaw praised the efforts of the
Windward Division cadets during
a recent Talons Out Honor Flight,
in which World War II veterans in
and around Southwest Michigan
are flown to Washington to visit
the World War II memorial.
Shaw joined the crowd of about
2,000 people at the Kalamazoo Air
Zoo — an aviation and science
center and museum — that wel-
comed the veterans home after the
whirlwind trip and saw the cadets
in action.
“One thing that really impressed
me … is our Windward Division
of Naval Sea Cadets, who played
a huge role in this event,” he
said. “They were up very early on
Saturday morning to help get the
heroes off and were there when they
returned. I was touched to see all
the Sea Cadets push the wheelchairs
of these heroes as they made their
grand entrance into the Air Zoo.
“None of the youth organizations
present played a bigger role and
more visible role in this event than
our Sea Cadets. We all should be
very proud of the outstanding young
people. Bravo Zulu to the Windward
Division and their leadership, Lt.
John Abel and staff, for the efforts in
this great event.”
Bremerton Salutes
John C. Stennis Standouts
Four Third Quarter 2016 Sailors
of the Quarter (SOQs) from the
Bremerton, Wash.-based aircraft
carrier USS John C. Stennis were rec-
ognized by the Bremerton-Olympic
Peninsula Council during a Sept. 13
luncheon held at the Bangor Plaza
on Naval Station Kitsap-Bangor.
Each awardee was presented a soar-
ing eagle statuette engraved with
their names by Council President
Tim Katona, with assistance from
Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent.
The carrier’s Commanding
Officer, Capt. Greg Huffman, Com-
mand Master Chief Benjamin Rush-
ing and the awardees’ respective
Department Leading Chief Petty
Officers (DLCPOs) were present
to honor the standouts for their
hard work and individual efforts.
Huffman also was the guest speaker
and enlightened the audience regard-
ing achievements and challenges
from the ship’s recent deployment.
The Senior SOQ is Aviation
Structural Mechanic 1st Class
Jason Knopes, who was joined at
the luncheon by his wife, Christina.
Knopes previously had earned one
Blue Jacket of the Month selection,
one Blue Jacket of the Quarter
Battle Creek-Kalamazoo Council President T.R. Shaw, along with council
members Doug Ivey and Karl Loomis, present a certificate of appreciation to
Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Brigitte Baskin and Fireman Jacob Marlow of U.S.
Coast Guard Station St. Joseph Sept. 13.
