After a long time of preparation, the time had finally come. The 15. year-old jubilee was here, and; not only was the weather fine, but the program was also excellent.
Captain Sophie Sharkfin leads us, as her guests, through the planned program.
The first item on the program was an official speech by Admiral Allian Blackwell. She told us something about the history of the Coast Guard and thanked all active members for the great work done in the past.
In 1790, at the request of Alexander Hamilton, President George Washington established a fleet of small, but swift vessels, “judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports” to serve as “useful sentinels of our laws.” For more than two centuries now, the United States Coast Guard has manned boats, tenders, tugs, cutters, and aircraft, answering the call of duty. Ever vigilant, the guardians of our waters remain Semper Paratus—always ready.
Everyday we are reminded of these brave patriots as they secure our borders from drug runners and terrorists, defend our country’s interests around the world, rescue our citizens from stormy seas, and ensure the safe and efficient shipment of more than $5.4 trillion of commerce.
Everyday the acts of bravery of our gallant men and women in uniform putting service over self, and it highlights the everyday courage,not only in USCG but in all coast guards across the world. It is a call to a duty higher than self.
Today we honor their birthday and also that of the SL Coast Guard, founded in reference to the USCG and their efforts of saving lives through boating safety that is our mission and our call to duty. This has never changed nor should it from our founders call Ret. Admiral Santrom Laxness and those following him as Admiral Tig Spijkers, and Ret Admiral Thorn Blackflag also Commandants of this group. We carry on their tradition and their passion and mission in the SLCG.
We shall never forget those that passed and forever honored in our midst. Could I ask for a moment of silence for those we have loved in passing in SL Coast Guard.
CPO Nikki Writer
PO1 Richard Callahan
MCPO Lisa Danick
MCPO Green “Tails’ Topaz
CDR Rosie Silverweb
These guardians will always be in our hearts and their dedication to SLCG.
You know behind all our feelings is nothing, but behind principle is everything. When you have principles that is where ‘I can’ starts. If you are all about your feelings then you will give up, because there is nothing there, but when you have principles that is the start of it. Feelings come and go. Yeah I didn’t feel like not getting up this morning, but my principles got my behind out of bed.
Many things will keep you from your principles….fear, feelings and living by dogma of others opinion. Have the courage to follow your principles, there will be ups and there will be downs. It is hard to kill the human spirit and it is hard to kill your principles. Anybody can do what is easy, because everybody is doing it. It takes courage to start over again, to pick yourself up and follow your principles.
And I tell you guardians today that principles are promise. It is not about your feelings, your fears and your status. Follow your dreams because we only have so much time in this life to find and make those dreams come true. I know this full well this year because during my absence I almost lost my life. So today I stand up today and ask you to stand up for your principles…and live this day with passion, like it was the last day of your life. What matters is what you do today…make this day, this year, this moment about your principles in life…the promise. There is also an answer, there is always a way…. I challenge you to live up to principle, put hope in where fear once lived. I assure you the promise will come true.
This year has been one of the most challenging times for us personally and in our Coast Guard family. Thru the grace of God we have had members and past members struggle thru COVID-19 and come out on the other side intact. We still have those struggling and as a group we pull together to support one another. The rest of this year we will go thru changes, growing pains and yes conflict. But we are not standing alone when we stand together. The SLCG was founded in 2005 and we today celebrate our 15th birthday. SLCG is one of the longest standing Coast Guard groups in Second Life. Many attribute that to our mission and purpose. I attribute much like the USCG to the core of the loyal, caring and hardworking members that know as a group we stand for something bigger than rank and bigger than billet.
And like I always say, I just steer the ship, I would be nothing without my fellow guardians. They among all deserve the respect, honor and loyalty.
From PO1 Richard Callahan’s profile he copied the Ethos Guardian creed which I have always loved. PO1 Callahan was fine guardian and very loved by our group in his time.
The Guardian Ethos
The Ethos is as follows:
I am a maritime guardian.
I serve the citizens of Second Life®.
I will protect them.
I will defend them.
I will save them.
I am their shield.
For them I am Semper Paratus.
I live the Coast Guard core values.
I am a guardian.
We are the SL Coast Guard.
Happy Birthday USCG and SLCG. Please enjoy the events today that so many hard working guardians have provided for you. I am constantly and appreciatively amazed by their talents and dedication to service.
Thank you for your time and your commitment to duty.
SEMPER PARATUS
(Speech provided by Commandant Allian Blackwell)
After a portion of the event was over, we had some time to look around. At small stands, the work of the Coast Guard was presented and also which departments. It was very informative.
Many of the Coast Guard boats were also there, and you could close look at them.
When we had looked around, we went back to our places. In the distance, you could already hear the engine sounds of the helicopters. It was a grand formation flight. They showed a small part of their skills there.
After a short interruption, it went on. The ship parade began, first of all, the Coast Guard’s newest ship, the WLM, Coastal Buoy Tender of the Coast Guard, Coastal Buoy Tender.
Besides the new presentation, the Coast Guard’s typical ships were shown, such as the R-BM’s or the hovercraft.
The next item on our program was the parachute pilots. They were first picked up by a helicopter and then jumped off from some height and landed on one of the FRC’s decks, Fast Response Cutter. It was impressive how precisely they did this.
The FRC is used, among other things, when someone needs first aid or Mayday Rescues.
The next item on the program was nice to watch because the sailors proved their skills. They had made a short round to present us their ships.
And then came one of the highlights, a live presentation of the SAR (search and rescue unit). They are just about to integrate a new operational option; it is the rescue divers. They deploy this unit when a ship has crashed and sunk. Mostly air bubbles are formed in boats, where survivors can stay for quite some time. To rescue the people, divers must come. Re-enacting the scenario, they show the work of the divers and how they proceed. We were very impressed to see such a great team play of the whole team.
It was slowly getting evening, and it was time to say goodbye to us as guests. The penultimate item on the program was the honor guard.
Captain Sophie Sharkfin spoke, and everyone got up to pay their last respects to the Coast Guard’s injured comrades. The honor guard had given thereby also their salute shots.
Unfortunately, paying last respects is always a sad moment because many excellent and helpful people did not come back home.
When dusk fell, there were fireworks, and the event ended with a bang.
Article Written by:
SR ღMαιкεMια Sυиαтσღ
Article Edited and speeches added by,
PO1 Asa Darkbyrd.
Itinerary is as follows:
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0930 SLT Opening Speech by Commandant
1000 SLT Ocean Eagles Fly-by
1100 SLT Boat Parade Flotilla
1200 SLT Diving Falcons Demonstration
1230 SLT STC Sail-by
1300 SLT SAR Demonstration
1400 SLT Honor Guard Salute and Fireworks
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Photo Site where everyone was able to post their own photos created by: LCDR Judith LeFevre
Speech by Captain Sophie who graciously hosted the event and provided the speech and itinerary for the event:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Honored Guests, Admirals, Officers, Sailors, Marines, and Guardians. I am CDR Sophie Sharkfin of the SL Coast Guard and I am here to present you the SL Coast Guard’s elite Honor Guard!
The Honor Guard Officer in Charge is LTJG Letizia Faulkes. The Drill Captain is ENS Terry Takoda Monday, both of which are stationed at Abbotts Field within SLCG District 1.
The drill team is comprised of various members representing many of the 12 stations within the SL Coast Guard.
The Honor Guard is a proud group, as indicated by their Creed, which states:
“I am an Honor Guardsman.
I will Proudly stand beside my shipmates despite the discomforting elements;
I will maintain Poise on and off the parade field;
I will exceed the standards and accept nothing but Perfection.
I will Honor all Coast Guard men and women both living and dead.
I will Respect the Honor Guard Mission and my Seniors.
I will Devote my maximum effort unto this sacred duty.”
Their Creed ends with saying, and I quote, “By wearing this rope I have accepted a commitment to Excellence as a way of life.”
So as you can see, the Honor Guard is uniquely positioned to commemorate this memorial ceremony in honor of those men and women who died in defense of freedom and democracy around the world.
After a brief moment of silence, our very own HQ Honor Guard Liaison, RDML Donatella Mitchell, will play a rendition of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes, which will be available in the in-world sound.
After Amazing Grace, the SL Coast Guard Honor Guard will commence with the 21 gun salute. Each rifleman will fire three shots.
The use of gun salutes can be traced to early warriors throughout the world who demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective.
The tradition of rendering a salute by cannon originated in the 14th century as firearms and cannons came into use. The number of shots typically had astrological and biblical significance, where multiples of 3 and 7 are said to have spiritual significance.
In modern times, the 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation rendered and wasn’t fully adopted by the United States until 1875.
In fact, at noon on Memorial Day, a 21-gun salute is rendered on all military installations to honor the nation’s fallen.
The last time I witnessed a 21-salute exchange among warships was on July 4th, 2012 while celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
I was aboard the USS Wasp in Boston, and we exchanged 21 shots of the saluting battery — at 5-second intervals — between the USS Wasp and the USS Constitution (America’s oldest commissioned warship) and the USCG Eagle (The US Coast Guard’s training tall ship). The Wasp initiated, the other ships responded.
It is hard to describe how emotional that was…
After today’s 21-gun salute…
…the Honor Guard Bugler will play Taps. “Taps” is the distinctive bugle melody played at U.S. military funerals and memorials and as a “lights-out” signal to soldiers at night.
Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and bow your heads and join me in a moment of silence to honor those fallen in the defense of their country.
bows my head
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Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us for this 21-gun salute demonstration courtesy of the SLCG Honor Guard. And please be safe and enjoy the rest of today’s events!
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