Governor Mike Foster (LA) proclaiming Lafayette Flotilla 44 Day.

All successful flotillas have a recipe for success; Flotilla 44 has the right ingredients to make it happen.

The right ingredients…. When asked a recipe, the first words out of a Cajun cook’s mouth will be... “First you make a roux.” A roux is the basic beginning for many Cajun dishes with an equal mixture of oil and flour that you brown and use as a thickening base. Just as a building must begin with a good foundation, without a good “roux” to start with, the final product is destined to be doomed.

A recipe for success…. Flotilla 44 has found that recipe for success with an initial membership of thirty-three members. They recently held their Charter Night at the Lafayette Petroleum Club. Lafayette, in the heart of French Louisiana, sits on the Vermilion River. It is the parish seat and the fourth largest city in Louisiana and is a city with a colorful Cajun atmosphere. With more than fifty-five people in attendance, CDR James Montgomery, Directory of the Auxiliary, D8CR, performed the age-old ritual of chartering a new flotilla.

First, you make a roux…. The first order of business was the reading of the charter and the presentation of the plank holder certificates. As with the roux in the Cajun recipes, the foundations of the flotilla are the members who hold the plank certificates. CDR Montgomery read the “plank holders” warrant and presented the plank certificate, which symbolizes charter members’ status. This tradition goes back to the time when they christened a new vessel and the original crew received a promise of ownership of one of the ship’s planks.

Plank Holders Certificates…. “To all Sailors wherever ye may be: and to all salts, sea lawyers, swabs, land lubbers, square-knot admirals, gun deckers, and all other scavengers of the seven seas, Greetings: And be it known, by all ye earthly mortals who may be distinguished and honored by this sailor’s presence, that the holder of this certificate is an honored member of the first and most illustrious crew which distinguished itself forever when it commissioned the Flotilla 44 Lafayette, Louisiana. And for this good and sufficient reason, is entitled by the laws of the sea, to the rights and privileges of a plank owner. Be it further understood, that this sailor is entitled also to a clear and unencumbered title to a single plank in the deck of the aforementioned illustrious unit. This final, accurate selection will be made in order of seniority according to the treasured, honorable records contained in Davey Jones Log Book. Disobey these orders under extreme penalty of my displeasure,” signed by Commander James Montgomery.

Presentation of the Charter Certificates…. CDR Montgomery then presented the Charter Certificate which read, “Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard, Flotilla 4 of Division 4 in the 8th Coast Guard District Coastal Region is hereby authorized at Lafayette Louisiana consisting of the following charter members Barbara Adams, C. F. Adams, James J. Adams, Jules G. Adams, Robert J, Adams, Gary Alsandor, Joseph L. Andrus, III, Tommy J. Angelle, Rosemary Azar, Cleveland S. Banquer, Dr. Donald R. Blue, William F. Boelte, Timothy A. Boudreaux, Albert A. Broussard, Jr. , Charles Burke, Mike Clayton, Jerry Dean, Richard H. Ferrel, Scott T. Foster, Susan A. Foster, Edward F. Guillard, Ramona Hand, David A. Laurent, Mary A. Laurent, Edmond P. LeBlanc, Jr., Chris R. Leleux, William Massey, Craig Moran, Kay E. Ogniben, George Ramien, Phillip W. Richard, Thomas A. Rogers, Gabriel Sibille, Jr., William Summers, Edith G. Wellemeyer, Edward Wiltz, and Charles Ziegler, signed by RADM Robert F. Duncan, Commander Eighth Coast Guard District. Flotilla 44 also honored William Wellemeyer, Lenny Kappel, and Bing Hastings as honorary plank owners.

Pledge of membership…. The new members of Flotilla 44 received the pledge of membership administered by Bing Hasting, Rear Commodore-Central, and Captain Stephen P. Garrity, USCG, Marine Safety Office Morgan City. The elections of officers followed the pledge. Rosemary Azar was elected as Flotilla Commander and Scott Foster as Flotilla Vice Commander. Lenny Kappel, DCP, and Robert Parr, VCP performed the swearing in of the Commander and Vice Commander.

Presentation of the Director’s “Job Well Done Coin”…. CDR Montgomery presented his “Job Well Done” coin to Barbara Adams for her hard work with the organization of Flotilla 44. The coin is an award, given by the Director of the Auxiliary, providing informal recognition for an exceptionally noteworthy performance.

“A Noble Cause”…. The keynote speaker at Charter Night was Captain Stephen P. Garrity, USCG, Marine Safety Office Morgan City. “What does it take to really be successful? I think first of all is a noble cause...something that you really think is worth putting your time into and really sacrificing your life and giving up your youth to this cause. When it comes to a noble mission, saving people’s lives, protecting the environment, reducing property damage, and now, protecting the nation from the terrorist threat, you could not have a more noble cause than being in the Coast Guard and being part of the Coast Guard family. I certainly want to welcome you into the Coast Guard family and tell you how grateful we are for your presence,” said Garrity.

A spicy Flotilla, Cajuns with a dash of Creole…. Flotilla 44 must certainly have a recipe for success in this unique area of Louisiana. A blend of wonderful Cajun and Creole cuisine, original Zydeco and Cajun music, scenic swamplands, plantations and many activities and sights characteristic of their cultural uniqueness. Add to that recipe, thirty-three members who are anxious and ready to be members of Team Coast Guard and you have a winning combination for a successful flotilla!