The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today its Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard’s Fourteenth District will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Honoring local Coast Guard members who protect coastline shores from the Hawaiian Islands to Guam, the gala’s Chairman is Mr. Lee Webber, publisher and president of the Honolulu Advertiser; the Master of Ceremonies will be Mr. Michael Perry, a recognized name in Hawaiian broadcast history; and the Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker will be former Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta.
Remarks will also be given by Commanding Officer of Air Station Barber’s Point, CAPT Brad Bean; AST2 Abram A. Heller who recently received the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal for his participation in a rescue in the waters around Alaska; RADM Manson Brown, commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District; Vice Admiral Vivien Crea, vice-commandant of the Coast Guard; and Anne B. Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation.
In addition to honoring the service of the men and women who wear the Coast Guard uniform and are dedicated to enforcing maritime law, protecting our homeland and preserving the environment, this tribute sponsored by the Coast Guard Foundation will raise funds to support the organization’s important projects and programs on behalf of the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Foundation recently completed a Distance Learning Center at Integrated Support Command in Honolulu, as well as provided assistance through the Family Disaster Fund to help support the families of CG-6505. This year the Coast Guard Foundation scholarship designed to support higher education goals was awarded to the daughter of a Coast Guard member in Guam, currently in her freshman year at Babson College.
All Coast Guard Foundation programs and initiatives seek to enhance the lives and performance of Coast Guard members, their families and Coast Guard Academy cadets. Highlighting the multiple missions of the Coast Guard in Hawaii who bravely serve the Fourteenth District, the event will also honor the four member of CG-6505 who perished during a training exercise in September 2008.
The annual Coast Guard gala will take place Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa’s Coral Ballroom, 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, Hawaii. The cocktail reception and silent auction will begin at 5:30 pm with a 6:00 pm dinner reception to follow.