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Auxiliarist Betty Riddle |
“A woman who has donated thousands and thousands of work hours to the Coast Guard station on Fort Myers Beach is set to retire next week. Before she leaves, the Coast Guard had a surprise for the dedicated volunteer.
"After I joined the Auxiliary, I got sent down to Florida for the Mariel boatlift and I got thrown in their communications room," said Betty Riddle. She liked it so much; she stayed with it – for 30 years.
"Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I'd be anywhere from 6 to 6:30 and stay until 4," said Riddle. She volunteered at the Fort Myers Beach Coast Guard station. She listened for distress calls and mayday calls from boats in the Gulf.
After volunteering for so many years, Riddle is retiring. "They are doing so well, the time has come. Time has come," said Riddle.
Riddle volunteered around 30 hours a week over 30 years. That's 46,800 hours. "I'm figuring it's somewhere around $1.2 to $1.4 million in manpower alone," said Jeff Kerner, Commanding Officer, Coast Guard (Station) Fort Myers Beach.
The Coast Guard wanted to show their appreciation, so the room where she worked for 30 years is named after her. "Couple of guys followed me out of there, and I came back to the door, put the code in, and they go ‘Betty, look up.' And I look up at the ceiling. And they go, 'Betty, look at the damn door!', and I go 'Wow,'" said Riddle.
Riddle has been a teacher and a mentor to two generations of Coast Guard men and women. "I had no idea I was going to be here for 30 years," said Riddle. "It was something I enjoyed and I did it."
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Riddle Communications Center |
~efl 02-25-11