Bernard Koether III of Westport, Chairman of the Stratford-based Glacier Society, presented Congressman Robert Simmons of Connecticut’s Second District, a Glacier Society plaque in recognition of the lawmaker’s legislative efforts. The presentation took place June 6 at a reception in New Canaan.
Simmons is a strong supporter of the movement to re-commission the USS/USCGC Glacier and return her to active service for the benefit of humanity. The Glacier is destined to return to sea with a three-fold Mission: to contribute medical care and research for the benefit of native people living above the Arctic Circle, to perform earth sciences and environmental research, and to provide education for the public via real time Internet and satellite TV broadcast.
Koether noted that Simmons is uniquely positioned for this leadership role because he serves the constituents of New London, the home base for the Navy’s submarines that explored the Arctic with the Glacier and other icebreakers and home of the
Coast Guard Academy. He added that Connecticut is the logical new home base for the Glacier since she served under the command of both the Navy and the Coast Guard.
The
Glacier Society extends the spirit and tradition of exploration of the explorer Captain Nathaniel Palmer of Stonington, who discovered the Palmer Peninsula in the Antarctic in the mid-1800s. Lincoln Ellsworth, of Yale University, the first to fly in both the Arctic and the Antarctic, continued this exploration spirit.
Simmons commented, “The Glacier will make an important new contribution for humanity world-wide and will serve as a great economic and intellectual contributor for the residents of Connecticut. I am proud to be a part of this great team.”