Search for WWII Coast Guard Veterans begins

usmc5831 — Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:58 am

Author: usmc5831

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:58 am

SEARCH FOR WWII COAST GUARD VETERANS BEGINS

SEATTLE - The search is on for Coast Guard World War II veterans to represent the service during the America's Celebrate Freedom Salute, World War II 60th Commemoration this summer.

The Coast Guard Thirteenth District is soliciting nominations of Coast Guard veterans, Active Duty, Auxiliary and SPARS, to serve as distinguished guests of honor during the three-day event August 25-28 in Vancouver, Washington.

During the culminating commemoration ceremony Aug. 28, the veterans will receive recognition on stage on behalf of 241,093 World War II Coast Guardsmen that served as part of the war effort.

The service is seeking two people, one active duty or Auxiliary (precursor to the Coast Guard Reserve) and one SPAR (The Coast Guard's Women's Reserve during WWII).

In order to be nominated, the person must have served as part of the Coast Guard either as active duty, auxiliary or SPAR during the years of 1941 to 1945. The member's service should be characterized as honorable. A short history describing the veteran's service history should also be included in the nomination. Nomination should be made in letter form and sent to Commander (ipa), Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Seattle, WA 98174. The selection will be announced on Coast Guard Day, Aug. 4.

America's Celebrate Freedom Salute, World War II 60th Commemoration is one of six regional observances selected by the Department of Defense honoring those who served during WWII.

Every veteran attending the Sunday ceremony will be presented with a WWII Veteran badge and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin. The two veterans selected to represent the Coast Guard will be presented their pins on stage during the ceremony.

Veterans and family members are invited to the three-day event, with our WWII Veterans being recognized as the "Distinguished Guests" of "America's Celebrate Freedom Salute.

The Northwest's event is expected to be the largest in the nation. The event is managed by the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust and co hosted by the National Park Service and the City of Vancouver in cooperation with the Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard. The festivities will be at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve, home of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Vancouver Barracks, which has a military history dating back to 1849.

The public can find more information on the event on the web at http://www.60wwii.mil and https://www.americassalute.org . For more information on Veteran's nomination please contact Thirteenth District Public Affairs at d13ipa@uscg.mil or by calling 206-220-7237.

American Military Community

Search for WWII Coast Guard Veterans begins