Stonington, Conn. - The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that its fifth Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Our Nation's Capital will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. Honoring the heroic efforts of Coast Guard men and women over the past year, guest speakers will include the event's Chair, Linda L. Bean of Linda Bean's Perfect Maine brand of Maine lobster products, and senior leaders of the United States Coast Guard. In addition to recognizing the guardians who enforce maritime law, protect our homeland and preserve the environment, the event will raise funds to support the Coast Guard Foundation's important projects and programs that seek to improve the lives and performance of Coast Guard members, their families and Coast Guard Academy cadets, including college scholarships for children, as well as grants for enlisted members.
"Our annual tribute event is a profound expression of our gratitude for the bravery and heroism our Coast Guard members demonstrate everyday to keep Americans safe," said Anne B. Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation. "We are proud to welcome our partners and the community to honor our impressive Coast Guard men and women and to support our important year-round efforts to help enhance service and opportunities for members and their families."
"My lifelong appreciation for the U.S. Coast Guard's services to both our domestic fishing boats and pleasure craft, and its servicemen and women's commitment to heroic missions around the world, bring me from Maine to our nation's capitol in grateful support of the Coast Guard Foundation," said Ms. Bean.
In conjunction with the fifth Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Our Nation's Capital and the organization's 40th anniversary celebration of service to the United States Coast Guard, the Foundation will kick off its Are You One In A Million? campaign. The Coast Guard has rescued more than 1 million people since it was established in 1790. Honoring the heroic efforts of the service men and women throughout history, the Foundation's new campaign strives to capture and highlight the unique and diverse stories, and personal impact, of over a million successful missions of bravery and courage. A website has been created to collect accounts from individuals who lived another day because of the bravery of the Coast Guard, as well as families with stories of a heroic rescue passed down through generations. Individuals can submit and view stories at one-in-a-million-rescued.org (launching June 18, 2009).
The Coast Guard Foundation's fifth Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Our Nation's Capital will take place Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the National Building Museum, 441 G Street Northwest, Washington, DC. A cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 pm, with a dinner reception and program to follow at 7:30 pm. For more information on the Coast Guard Foundation's tribute to the United States Coast Guard, itsAre You One In A Million? campaign, the Coast Guard Foundation or to help support its work, please visit the Coast Guard Foundation website, www.coastguardfoundation.org.