Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Guthline of CG Station Castle Hill and Flotilla 12-3 Auxiliarists David K. Clinton, Craig Hall, and Imants Ansbergg

July 30. Hull, MA. Members of CG Station Point Allerton’s color guard, Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Guthline of CG Station Castle Hill and Flotilla 12-3 Auxiliarists David K. Clinton, Craig Hall, and Imants Ansbergg were on hand as the town of Hull, MA held their annual tribute to the Coast Guard.

The annual event included ceremonies at the grave site of Captain Joshua James, Hull’s legendary “Life saver.” Captain James is considered to be the father of the United States Coast Guard.

The ceremonies started with Director of the Life Saving Museum, Lorry Newmeyer reading a short narrative history of the early Life Saving Service and the life of Captain James, emphasizing his significant connection to today's Coast Guard. Specifically noted was the Captain’s early development of innovative troop training techniques. These were effective in making his early Life Savers so successful and became an utricle part of the Coast Guard’s training philosophy

It was also noted that in all his years of service he never lost a single man under his command. On Captain James last day of duty, James, after stepping out of a life boat, collapsed and died at the shore. His last words were, “The tide is ebbing.”

Following the ceremony a moment of silence was observed to honor Captain James and the men and women of today’s Coast Guard. Then current “Ancient Keeper,” Chief Warrant Officer Guthline, Commander of CG Station Castle Hill, Newport, RI, placed flowers on the Captain’s grave.

Flags were placed on the graves of the Coast Guardsmen buried in the cemetery

Coast Guard Flags were passed out to the people gathered for the occasion along with maps of the cemetery. The flags were placed on the graves of the Coast Guardsmen buried in the cemetery. The ceremony ended with a song called the “Tide is ebbing,” written in tribute to Captain James’ life

After the moving ceremonies, the attendees gathered at the Life Saving Museum for a barbeque and to get ready for “The Lighting of the Bay,” the evening tribute to the men and women of the Coast Guard. Stretching for three miles, a thousand flares are lined along the bay. At 8:30pm, with a signal from the harbor master, they are lit in unison and lighted in unison. A lone bag piper paraded along the coast aboard a boat, a fitting close to a memorable ceremony.

"It’s very beautiful and serene," said Corinne Leung of the Hull Lifesaving Museum, which is organizing the event. “People stand back and enjoy the glow, and this mournful, reedy tune coming off the water."

 

 

 

 

 

~efl 08/12/11