MD Governor Moore, DHS Secretary Majorkas Honor Coast Guard, Maryland Agencies

The Coast Guard Foundation’s 20th annual Tribute to the Coast Guard in our Nation’s Capital brought together industry leaders, government officials, and U.S. Coast Guard members to recognize exceptional service and celebrate the missions and heroism of Coast Guard personnel nationwide. 

Representatives of the Key Bridge Response Unified Command, including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland State Police, and Witt O’Brien’s, received an award for the collaboration of public agencies and maritime companies in response to the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after it was struck by the container ship Dali.

Moore highlighted the inspiring work of responders to save lives, recover the six victims, and quickly open the Port of Baltimore in 11 weeks when many thought it would take 11 months.

"You all epitomized what it means to be Maryland tough and Baltimore strong," said Moore. "You all epitomized what it means to see our neighbors in our greatest times of need. You all epitomized what it means -- what it truly means -- to be willing to sacrifice it all for the people to your left and to your right. And not only did you accomplish heroic work at historic speed, you did it without a single injury to our first responders, not a single injury to the people who were doing the work. And you made sure you honored our pledge to say, that that morning we lost six people; we weren't going to lose any more."

The Foundation also recognized crews who rescued four divers 46 miles southeast of Cape Fear River, North Carolina, on August 14. The four men had been reported missing the day before from the pleasure craft Big Bill’s, approximately 63 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After an extensive air-sea search, the men were spotted by the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130J Hercules airplane, which dropped them a life raft. The crew of the USS Porter, which was operating in the vicinity, recovered them from the raft and a Coast Guard Station Oak Island motor lifeboat returned them to awaiting family and friends ashore.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagan provided the keynote address. Her remarks highlighted the service of Coast Guard members around the world and the Coast Guard Foundation's support of them and their families. 

She also thanked the dinner committee that planned the event. "I would like to express special thanks to the Foundation dinner committee and co-chairs Admiral Thad Allen and Ms. Corrine Kosar," Fagan said. "Special recognition and thanks to Corrine who was awarded the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award earlier today for her work in making tonight possible and all that she has done for the Foundation over the course of more than 21 years. Congratulations, thank you, Corrine."

The event was emceed by renowned national TV journalists Kyra Phillips and John Roberts and raised nearly $800,000 for Coast Guard Foundation programs. The Foundation is grateful to dinner sponsors Cheniere Energy and Oracle and major sponsors Amazon Web Services, API, Austal USA, HII, Lockheed Martin, Metcor/LSI, and Peraton, as well as all those supporting the event. 

Title Image: Members of the Key Bridge Response Unified Command pose with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan during the 20th Annual Coast Guard Foundation Tribute to the Coast Guard in our Nation's Capital on June 18, 2024, in Washington.