Coast Guard Foundation Honors Coast Guard Air Station and Sector Crews at New York Gala

The Coast Guard Foundation returned to Manhattan for its first Coast Guard tribute event in the city since the pandemic. The New York Salutes the Coast Guard gala was held Oct. 6 at Pier Sixty on Chelsea Piers.

The evening highlighted the missions and service of Coast Guard personnel in the Northeast and included a special award for heroism for Coast Guard crew members from Air Station Cape Cod. The Coast Guard members partnered with the Canadian Coast Guard on March 2, 2021, to rescue 31 mariners when the fishing vessel Atlantic Destiny became disabled due to a fire and sank 130 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Two Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane rushed to the scene along with a Royal Canadian Coast Guard CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CC-130 Hercules airplane. The Canadian helicopter hoisted six crewmembers to safety and delivered two Search and Rescue Technicians to help combat the flooding.

After having to jettison heavy equipment to make room for the number of survivors, the two helicopter crews from Air Station Cape Cod hoisted 21 mariners to safety while the U.S. Coast Guard airplane managed communications and coordination of the multiple aircraft while providing long-range safety support.

Early the next morning the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Cape Roger rescued the remaining four crew members and two Canadian Search and Rescue Technicians who had remained aboard to combat the flooding. The vessel sank about two hours later.

The Foundation also recognized the work of Coast Guard members assigned to Sector New York during the pandemic and highlighted the importance of the Port of New York and New Jersey to the city, the region, and the nation’s economy.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Linda Fagan, First Coast Guard District Commander, Rear Admiral John Mauger, and Coast Guard Sector New York Commander, Captain Zeta Merchant, attended along with other Coast Guard personnel.

Now in its 40th year, New York Salutes the Coast Guard brings together Coast Guard leaders, industry executives, congressional and government officials, and Coast Guard supporters for a night of patriotic fanfare. Performances included the U.S. Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Glee Club. Major sponsors included City Experiences, anchored by Hornblower, McAllister Towing, and Moran Towing, along with Chevron, which provided a generous lead donation for the evening’s in-person fundraising for emergency disaster relief for Coast Guard members impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. The Foundation is also grateful for the generosity of all sponsors and attendees who helped raise $470,000 for Coast Guard Foundation activities nationwide.

The final Coast Guard Tribute event of 2022 will be Nov. 4 in Houston.