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Coast Guard Auxiliary Concludes a Successful Mission - Assisting in Safeguarding the Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention (RNC) successfully concluded last night, and today the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary winds down its participation in one of the largest maritime operations in New York City history.
Over 400 Auxiliarists maintained a 24-hour presence on over 75 Coast Guard Auxiliary boats, called facilities, contributing over 4500 combined volunteer hours.
New York City, NY (PRWEB) September 6, 2004 -- The Republican National Convention (RNC) successfully concluded last night, and today the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary winds down its participation in one of the largest maritime operations in New York City history.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian volunteer uniformed component of the United States Coast Guard. Over 400 Auxiliarists maintained a 24-hour presence on over 75 Coast Guard Auxiliary boats, called facilities, contributing over 4500 combined volunteer hours.
Auxiliary facilities are loaned by their private owners to the U.S. Government for use by the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. While serving the Coast Guard, the owners are reimbursed for fuel and damage should it occur. The Auxiliarists receive meal stipends but are required to pay for their uniforms and equipment, out of their own funds.
In addition, 40 Auxiliarists worked in land based roles, from Public Affairs to Marina Safety Patrols; Chefs and Communications, adding another 1000 hours of public service in assisting the United States Coast Guard in protecting New York in this special security event.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary currently has over 36,000 members with 3,900 or about 11 percent of the membership located in the First Coast Guard District, Southern Region, which encompasses the New York City Metropolitan area, from Southern New Jersey to parts of Connecticut and Vermont.
Not counted in the aforementioned statistics was the increased presence of Auxiliary personnel at all the Coast Guard stations in the region. Auxiliary facilities provided Search and Rescue platforms and crews, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and a wide assortment of other missions that members of the Auxiliary perform on a daily basis.
Auxiliarist Frank M. Ferraiuolo, the Auxiliary First District (Southern Region) Staff Officer for Operations, and the Auxiliarys liaison with the Coast Guard for this event, was overjoyed by the performance of his fellow Auxiliarists.
Our members performed their jobs as professionals. The weather cooperated, the public cooperated and safety for our members, their boats and the public was maintained."
Ferraiuolo further said, We originally thought wed have 60 boats and about 100 members, but during the last few days before the RNC began, our members stepped up to the plate and pitched in to help the City of New York and the Coast Guard."
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