Fellowship among the 8's.

We all have our favorite patrol area, the one lake or stream we enjoy working more than any other. Pat Lewis, Commander of Flotilla 15-1 in D8-WR has hers, and it is in another district (note the “WR” vs. “ER”).

A year or so after Pat joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary her brother Gary came to visit and asked what she had been doing. After she told Gary about her involvement with the Auxiliary, he went home to Murray, Kentucky and he too got interested and involved.

Gary is now a member of Flotilla 8-10 in D8-ER.

Pat came to visit Gary in the spring four years ago and while there, attended a Division 8, D8-ER meeting and a search and rescue event (SAREX). She had such a good time she returned in the summer and worked as a crew person during the Pisgah Bay drag boat races on Kentucky Lake.

Pisgah Bay races on Kentucky Lake are a summer tradition the Auxiliary has been helping with for many years. Since drag boats can attain speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour, the Auxiliary vessels must enforce a “No Wake” policy. Our regatta patrols help slow the boaters down.

Because of this “closeness,” you get more interaction with the boating public in one long afternoon than you normally do in a whole season.

Pat has not missed a race season in over four years. Being the Commander of her Flotilla is keeping her busy, but not too busy to make the time trials and race day.

Her smiling face is always welcome in Division 8 even if we are “the other district” and it is about 170 miles from her home.

“We cannot wait until next year to see her again,” say all.