Flotilla 69 Members who have crossed the bar
The Two Bells Ceremony remembers Auxiliarist Kirby Heller on August 4, 2022 (CG Day) and others who passed before him like Casey Purvis and Robert Fuller from our Flotilla on Feb 1, 2001 in addition to AIRSTA Miami active duty like Nathan Bruckenthal of TACLET on Apr 24, 2004 and the HH-52A air crew members on Jan 17,1979, LT R.G. Ausness, LT R.C. Shearer Jr., Petty Officer 1st Class R.E. McClain & Petty Officer 3rd Class J.B. Case.
Two Bells Ceremony
There is a table set with the items below and the ceremony is dedicated to our fallen shipmates."ON THE TABLE SITS A RED ROSE TO SIGNIFY THE BLOOD OUR FALLEN SHIPMATES
SHED, A CRYSTAL GLASS OF WATER TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST FOR FREEDOM. SALT TO
REMIND US OF THE PAIN THEY FEEL LEST WE FORGET THEM. THE CHINA IS BONE WHITE AS
IS THE PURITY OF THEIR HEARTS AND SACRIFICES. THIS, ON A WHITE LINEN TABLECLOTH
THAT COULD BE USED AS A CLEAN BANDAGE FOR THEIR WOUNDS. WE TAKE THIS TIME TO
REMEMBER THEM. THE PLACE WE SET FOR THEM THIS EVENING IS A SPECIAL PLACE. AS IS
THE PLACE WE HOLD FOR THEM IN OUR HEARTS, OUR MINDS, AND OUR COAST GUARD."
(PAUSE)
"IN DAYS PAST, TWO BELLS (toll two bells here) MARKED THE END OF THE ROUTINE DAY ABOARD A SHIP. IT WAS TIME FOR TATOO, AND SOON, TAPS WOULD SOUND THROUGHOUT THE SHIP. CERTAINLY, THIS IS A MOST APPROPRIATE TIME TO HONOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS."
"THE TOLL OF THE SHIP'S BELL REMINDS US OF THE REVERENCE WE OWE TO OUR DEPARTED
SHIPMATES; (toll two bells here)
TO THOSE WHO GUARD THE HONOR OF OUR COUNTRY...UPON THE SEA...IN THE AIR...AND ON
FOREIGN SOIL. (toll two bells here)
LET IT BE A REMINDER OF THE FAITH THEY CONFIDE IN US; (toll two bells here)
LET US WHO GATHER HERE NOT FORGET OUR OBLIGATIONS, AND IN SILENCE, BREATHE A PRAYER FOR OUR ABSENT SHIPMATES. (toll two bells here)
LET US OFFER A SILENT PRAYER FOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES (10 SECOND PAUSE). THIS
MOMENT OF REVERENCE WE DEDICATE TO THE MEMORY OF OUR SHIPMATES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US. (toll two bells here)
(BUGLER PLAYS TAPS SLOWLY AFTER THE RINGING OF THE BELLS)
(AFTER THE SOUND OF THE HORN FADES, THE HOUSE LIGHTS ARE BROUGHT UP. WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT, THE ESCORT WILL REMOVE THE TABLE FROM THE FLOOR.)
ArlingtonCemetery.net/NBBruckenthal, USCG.Mil/Bruckenthal-Commissioning/Nathan-Bruckenthal coastguardnews.com/air-station-miami-holds-remembrance-ceremony-for-coast-guard-and-auxiliary-shipmates, GoatLocker.Org/resources/nav/TwoBell
Truxtun website has script with sounds for bells and taps at truxtunassociation.org/reunions/twobell. This video shows an example: youtu.be/9ShHZ8F9EIM
IN MEMORIAM August 4, 2022 (CG Day)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 69 Memorial Reflection for Auxiliarist Kirby A. Heller
“Gone but not forgotten.”
The tides of life have ebbed for a shipmate, and we, his fellow members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, gather here to honor his memory. Auxiliarist Kirby Heller was a member of Flotilla 9, Division 6, or the Seventh Coast Guard District. He has served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during the Vietnam War and in the Auxiliary for almost 30 years. He served well in the Auxiliary as the Past Flotilla Commander of Flotilla 6-10 and Flotilla 69 Staff Officer of Vessel Examination (5 times), Communications, Marine Safety & Operations. He held qualifications as an Aid to Navigation Verifier, Boat Crewmember, Coxswain, Recreational Boating Safety Visitor, Telecommunications Operator & Vessel Examiner.
He received 22 Awards:
•Sustained Auxiliary Service Award (3 times)
•Presidential Unit Citation
•Department of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit Award
•Coast Guard (CG) Unit Commendation (5 times)
•CG Meritorious Unit Commendation
•CG Meritorious Team Commendation (four times)
•Special Operations Service Ribbon (twice)
•Auxiliary Operations Program Ribbon
•Auxiliary Membership Service Award (twice)
•Auxiliary Operations Service Award (twice)
•Auxiliary Vessel Examiner/Marine Dealer Visitor Service Award
CROSSING THE BAR
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me,
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea.
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ out our bourne of time and place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face.
REFLECTIONS
We honor and cherish the memory of our shipmate, but we do not mourn for him for he has found refuge in the great harbor of eternal peace. Rather, it is for ourselves that we mourn; for a good friend has slipped his moorings in the night and is no longer among us. We will miss his hand on the helm. We will miss his shoulder next to ours. We will miss his encouragement and counsel as we meet the storm and strife of life. We of the Coast Guard Auxiliary mourn our loss, but we are consoled by the abiding faith that when the final watch changes for us and we too cross the bar our shipmate will be waiting to lead us into safe anchorage.
We bid you “Hail and Farewell”, shipmate, until we drop anchor beside you at the last great Rendezvous. Mourn not for our departed shipmate who has sailed to the Port of No Return. He has at last dropped anchor in the harbor eternally secure from gales and raging seas of life. Let us find consolation for ourselves in the knowledge that when God so wills, we too will join him there, and with him enjoy eternal tranquility.
Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch o'er the men who guard our coasts
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of thy love
Always ready, strong they stand
Our Coast Guard helps maintain this land.
Semper Paratus is their call
As they shirk self to give their all
In duty tough, demanding, hard
God guide and bless our Great Coast Guard.
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Lord stand beside the men who sail
Our merchant ships in storm and gale.
In peace and war their watch they keep
On every sea, on thy vast deep.
Be with them, Lord, by night and day;
For Merchant Mariners we pray.
TAPS (The Last Call)
Here at Rest with the blestFor his Country he did his best
Put the flag on his breast
Comrade rest.