Coast Guard Auxiliary - Flotilla 9-10

Division 9 Auxiliarists Honored Unit Commendation Award for Auxiliary Role in post-Sept 11th by Bob Story, Flotilla 9-10 U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Past FC Sharon Stamm presents Unit Commendation Award to Past Division Captain Don Denzin

Division 9 Auxiliary members, along with Auxiliarists from around the country, have been awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award for their role in assisting the Coast Guard following the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, DC.

In a citation read by Past Division Captain Ed Moffat during the 2004 Division Change of Watch ceremonies in Sun Prairie, Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thomas H. Collins said, in part:

"For exceptionally meritorious service from 11 September 2001 through 1 September 2002 for providing unprecedented levels of dedicated public service and operational, logistical, and administrative volunteer support to the United States Coast Guard and the Nation."

In the citation, the Commandant spoke of the support given by the Auxiliary to assist with security on our coasts, harbors, and waterways. He went on to say that during the period from 11 September 2001 to 1 September 2002, Auxiliarists dedicated nearly a half million hours of support for the maritime security mission, "through operations involving surface and air multi-mission harbor patrols, backfill search and rescue support and standby duties, as well as administrative and logistical duties."

In the days and months following September 11, 2001, Auxiliarists around the country volunteered for port security duties, surveillance of dams, power plants, bridges, and other potential terrorist targets. In some cities as close as Lake Michigan, Auxiliarists patrolled the water intake conduits that supply cities like Chicago with drinking water. And in Madison, Auxiliarists volunteered their time for administrative duties in Milwaukee, Chicago, or wherever else needed.

In closing the commendation, Admiral Collins commented, "The generous, patriotic spirit of America's Volunteer Lifesavers has exemplified our Nation's standard for volunteerism. The professionalism and devotion to duty of the 36,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard."