Winter storms brought devastating damage all across New England. Guilford, CT felt the effects 3 feet of snow can have on a community. A group of volunteers helps this small town return to normalcy. Spring time brings the all American sport of baseball. Guilford Little League baseball fields sustained significant structural damage to their batting cages. Chapter members assembled a work party to assist little league volunteers in cutting out bent pipes, stabilizing support posts and rehanging netting.
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Sector Long Island Sound held its Holiday Party on Saturday, December 15th at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. The venue was a go, the menu was set, guests were dressed in their finest. The only things missing were gifts for the door prizes and raffles. The morale committee asked for donations and chapter members proved they were no scrooges by providing over $100 in donations and gift cards. Chapter members Chris Schilling, Jim Guerette and Randy Rice are seen here with a load of turkeys donated to the Connecticut Food Bank. The intrepid trio spent the morning loading food from the Food Bank's warehouse to the vehicles of various churches and civic groups who were preparing for the holiday rush.
Chapter members Brent Nasworthy and Chris Schilling along with retired CWO Adrian Kavanagh and members of the Sector Chief's Mess, Officer's Association and Enlisted Association are seen here with the Sector Honor Guard before participating in the 5th annual Veteran's Run at the West Haven VA hospital. Proceeds will benefit local efforts to build a Fisher House on the grounds of the West Haven Campus and other healthcare system-based programs that support veterans in need. For over a year now chapter members from Sector Long Island Sound have served as pen pals for Ms. Kavanagh's students at Ellis Elementary in Boston. They have exchanged letters on all manner of topics but a common theme has been a desire to meet each other face to face. That idea recently became a reality when CWO Adrian Kavanagh,(ret) arranged with Base Boston for the students to visit for a field trip. Joining Mr. Kavanagh were chapter members CWO Jim Guerette and CWO Chris Schilling. The three of them helped Ms. Kavanagh with the class as they toured Base Boston, USCGC SENECA and Station Boston. The students were thrilled with the hands-on aspects while the adults took great satisfaction in opening young minds to new experiences and finally putting names to faces.
While on a visit to Mystic Seaport to instruct two Academy cadets on the finer points of marine inspection, CWO Brent Nasworthy suddenly found himself surrounded by legions of adoring fans. "Look! It's the Coast Guard!" was the cry from several students visiting the Seaport on a field trip. After a quick hello one intrepid student said "can I have your autograph?" Despite being taken aback by the unusual request, Brent played along admonishing the young man to "stay safe on the water" and signing with a flourish. Suddenly a sea of small hands were thrust out to get their very own Coast Guard autograph. After a few minutes of signing, chatting, laughing and answering students' questions about the Coast Guard it was time to move along. That chance encounter certainly brightened Brent's day and we hope it did the same for those young people. Chapter President CWO J.T. Green (third from left) meets with members of American Legion Post 88 in Hamden to welcome National Commander Fang Wong (third from right). Commander Wong has addressed Congress on issues such as veterans employment, VA health benefits and the GI Bill. The Chapter is grateful for the opportunity to have met with Commander Wong and strengthen the ties between not only ourselves and Post 88 locally but by extension, the ties between the Assocation and the Legion at the national level as well.
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard from the Coast Guard Academy and the Long Island Sound area participate in the Coast Guard Run to Remember at the academy May 18, 2012. Since 1992, 48 members of the U.S. Coast Guard have been killed in the line of duty. This run is a way to remember those men and women who have given their lives in service to this nation.
CWO Kimberly R. Smith, USCG Academy Public Affairs An Honored Volunteer As Coast Guardsmen we are constantly volunteering for many things. Sometimes it can be something as simple as helping each other move, and sometimes it’s something more involved like Partnership in Education work, high school mentorship, or visiting the local veteran’s home. It seems to be in our Coast Guard DNA to want to help others. But every once and a while someone takes volunteering to another level and goes above and beyond what is the average call. That person does not just volunteer for a day here or a day there, but is committed to a cause; a cause that truly effects not only the lives of the people being helped, but of the other volunteers that help along the way. BOSN4 Troy Riedel of the Coast Guard’s Leadership and Development Center in New London Conn. is just one of those people. "Coast Guardsmen have a commonality – we all desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. There are few greater honors than serving and helping those less fortunate," said Riedel. For three of the four years that he has been assigned to the LDC, Riedel has maintained a close rapport with the manager and staff of the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut, an organization with a big job and a limited budget that takes in homeless and battered women and their children and provides them a place to shelter or a safe haven. Over the three year period Riedel not only volunteered his personal time but he also led a number of teams of Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development students – over 100 students in all – in making major renovations to the Women’s Center’s two residential homes. Through his efforts students amassed over 900 volunteer hours, saving the Center more than $10,000 in labor and contracting costs; projects that would have otherwise been abandoned because of a lack of funds. From painting, demolition and reconstruction, replacing wood and tile flooring, repair of damaged interior spaces, and installing shelving units in the kitchen and living areas, Riedel made sure that repairs were made professionally so the shelter’s inhabitants had a comfortable place to live. He also personally ensured that winterizing of the shelters was done annually by removing air-conditioner units, insulating pipes from the freezing temperatures, and a number of other contributions to the Center. Through his efforts and leadership, more than 150 homeless women and children had a safe environment to live in and more than 5,900 domestic violence victims seeking assistance had a place to call. His outreach efforts positively affected the community and the Coast Guard Officer Corps. Because of this, Riedel was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal on May 9. He was recognized not only for the work that he spearheaded but for the all the positive changes that he made. “By diligently conducting these outreach events, you faithfully assisted the Women’s Center to meet their goals of providing clients with a safe and comfortable place of recovery,” reads the citation. “You have epitomized the definition of servant-leadership by demonstrating commitment to making positive changes in our local community and your actions reflect the proud character of our service ethos.” After being awarded the medal in front of one of his Chief Warrant Officer Classes, Riedel commented that “this award would not have been possible without a collection of very talented Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development students. I challenge every Coast Guardsmen – especially my fellow Chief Warrant Officers – to donate their time and expertise to a worthy organization in their area." Read the full text of Troy's citation HERE. While leaving work yesterday afternoon chapter member Jim Guerette came across a damsel in distress. A local elderly resident blew out her tire as she was making a turn just outside the main gate. Ever ready to respond, CWO Guerette immediately pulled over and changed her tire. With speed that would make a NASCAR pit crew blush he had her back on the road in no time. BRAVO ZULU for a job well done Jim! |
Ongoing ActivitiesWe are always collecting gently used books and clothing as well as new personal items and sundries for donation to the Rocky Hill Veteran's Home. Archives
May 2017
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