UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY UNOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

11 SEP 02

9/11 LAUNCH 5 PATROL

(Images by John and Pamela Bednarik, and Lynn Valenti)

 (Lynn Valenti & Cliff Forrest on watch off Ground Zero 9/11/02)

   On 11SEP02, Launch 5 left Ossining at 6:30am and proceeded down the Hudson River to USCG Activities NY. After a short visit there, where Coxswain Greg Porteus and Crew Jim Picciano, Lynn Valenti, Bob Daraio, Janet Morra, Cliff Forrest, Lou Liotti, Jack Sheehy, Dan McCarthy, and District 1(SR) Staff Officer, Public Affairs John Bednarik participated in a moment of silence for the 9/11 victims. They took up their assigned station in the North Cove off of Ground Zero along with a 41ft USCG Facility and two boats from the elite NYPD Harbor Unit at 9am.

   The extremely moving ceremony, ended with the tolling of all the New York City church bells and the sound of the horns of every vessel in New York Harbor at 10:20am, the exact time the second tower fell on September 11,2001.

Launch 5 proceeded  up the Hudson, patrolling around the northern tip of Manhattan and back down the Harlem River. The crew stopped for a break at the NYPD Harbor Unit repair shop and after a short visit with Sergeant Mike Murphy and his team, continued back down the river. Launch 5 was on station in the North Cove again at 5pm, this time for President Bush's tribute.)

   The day's events, simultaneously sad and uplifting, went off without incident at the end of which, a tired Launch 5 crew headed home. 

For more detailed information about Launch 5, her history, restoration, and crew, go to www.Launch5.com

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org. ###     Launch 5, a Memorial Observance of the exact time Tower One was hit click on all images to enlarge. A restored Police boat named after a deceased Patrolman Henry Walburger is now referred to as "Launch 5". Launch 5 was patrolling the waterways of Lower Manhattan during the first anniversary of September 11th today as a Coast Auxiliary vessel. Launch 5 also participated in securing the waterways around the South Street Seaport prior to the President arrival. Please view images taken by John Bednarik - USCG Aux DSO-PA 1SR while on patrol. Pamela Bednarik- ADSO-PA USCG 1SR Ground Zero from a Launch 5 perspective Auxiliarist Lynn Valenti keeps a stern watch The President's helicopter lands in Manhattan on 9/11. Ground Zero from a Launch 5 perspective Photo shows Buoy Tender Katherine Walker and 2 presidential Press helicopters Ground Zero from a Launch 5 perspective   For The Whole Launch 5 Story Go To: Launch 5 Hudson River Environmental & Safety Foundation

Click any of the buttons above to navigate this site. If you’re interested in joining the Auxiliary, click here. Also feel free to call our national recruiting hotline at 1 (877) 875-6296. If you’re interested in attending a public education class, click here. If you’re interested in scheduling a courtesy vessel safety check (VSC), click National VSC website

 www.ratlines.com  Revised: 12/29/07


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