Charter Ceremony
Martha’s Vineyard refloats Island Coast Guard Flotilla
Flotilla members with Sector Southeastern New England commander Capt. John Kondratowicz, Director of Auxiliary, commander Carissa April, and Senior Chief Robert Riemer of Station Menemsha
Photographed by Mark Lovewell, Courtesy of the Vineyard Gazette. Copyright Vineyard Gazette, all rights reserved
November 19, 2015: Amid low-key pomp and circumstance befitting Station Menemsha, Coast Guard officials formally recognized the establishment of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-9, one of numerous auxiliary units made up of volunteers who assist Coast Guard operations across the country.
For years, Island volunteers were part of Woods Hole Flotilla 11-2, because it had been about 20 years since there were enough Island members to support a separate unit. Over the past five years, a total of 18 Island residents enrolled in the Martha’s Vineyard detachment, a subgroup of the Woods Hole charter. Having met the minimum number of members for an established flotilla, the USCG held a chartering ceremony at the new Coast Guard Boathouse in Menemsha to formally recognize the 11-9 Flotilla and all its volunteer members.
The flotilla plays a large role in boating education on the Island. Flotilla member, Mr. Scott, helps teach a 13-week boating course at the high school, in addition to giving boating-safety presentations at town schools and libraries.
Other members help with food services, stand radio watch, conduct vessel safety checks, and aid training exercises for pilots over the water, among other duties.
Story reprinted courtesy The Martha's Vineyard Times.