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Saturday Evening Commodore’s BanquetArticle & photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor, SITREP |
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| National Bridge 2009-2010 |
Saturday evening, August 23
The piper is playing and everyone is dressed in their finery. It’s Saturday night and the time for the Commodore’s formal banquet. Soft lights bathe room and fine linen grace the tables.
As the attendees enter they file past the table set aside for the”Missing Sailor.” Master of Ceremonies NACO Aide Chester Lowe described the table and the items set out. The table is symbolic of the men and women who gave up their lives in the service of their country.
The National Board was piped aboard followed by the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen with his lady Pam.
Following grace a wonderful dinner was served. Conversation filled the room. Flashes popped as group photos and candid shots were snapped.
National Commodore Steve Budar introduced Admiral Thad Allen, the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Admiral Allen, in his signature enthusiastic manner, saluted the Auxiliary with a hearty thumbs up.
In his keynote speech Admiral Allen reiterated his feelings about the importance of the Auxiliary in the completion of the Coast Guard mission. He spoke considerably about the modernization of the Coast Guard. He stated that during his interview for Commandant with Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff he stressed this need and he is now following through with that pledge.
Admiral Allen described his feelings after being appointed the Chief Federal Officer on scene during Hurricane Katrina. He related an incident that made him proud. He was informed about a coming visit by President Bush and a request by the President to visit a relief shelter.
Admiral Allen decided to visit the center in advance of the Presidents arrival. “The volunteers at the shelter were there over 20 days, using sleeping bags and eating MRE’s,” he said.” As he walked through the room he inquired about the home towns and he received replies indicating that the volunteers were from all over the country.
As he was leaving the room one of the volunteers stated, “We are all Auxiliarists, sir.” Admiral Allen promptly turned around, went back in the room and had further conversations with the Auxiliarists. He held back his departure and when the President arrived he proudly told the Commander-in-Chief that all of the volunteers in the room were Coast Guard Auxiliarists. “The President was astonished,” he said.
Awards were presented following the keynote address. These awards will be reported in a separate SITREP article.
One of the traditions of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is that the same prologue and pledge of office is the same for the National Commodore as it is for a Flotilla Commander. Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara read the prologue and Admiral Thad Allen administered the pledge.
Following the installation of the National Area Rear Commodores, it came time to install our new National Commodore and Vice Commodore. As the audience stood, Nicholas Kerigan became the 26th National Commodore of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. James Vass was installed as the National Vice Commodore.
Another traditional, moving ceremony followed the installation. The frocking of the senior officers, where the new shoulder boards of office are placed on the uniform, is usually conducted by members of the officer’s family. NACO (e) Kerigan chose to have his children, Christine and James perform the ceremony while NAVCO (e) Vass had the same conducted by his lady Scottie McDaniell and NACO Budar.
The audience greeted its new senior officers with a rousing standing ovation.
Immediate Past National Commodore Gene Seibert and NACO (e) Kerigan, on behalf of the National Board, presented NACO Budar with two gifts. The first gift a beautiful ship’s clock and the second a framed wall display of his flag and decorations.
Mrs. Susan Kerigan, on behalf of the National Board spouses, presented Auxiliary’s First Lady Mary Kay Budar with a crystal lighthouse.
National Commodore Steve Budar then took center stage for his final Conference address. “I hope you all had a great time. The Conference has been successful because of each of you sitting here tonight,” he said.
He thanked the conference staff for a magnificent job under very short notice. “Thank you for all the time and effort you have put in for all of us,” he said. He then thanked District Commodore Allen Brown and the members of District 7 conference team.
He announced that the conference will be in Chicago next year.
He congratulated the new National Bridge. “You are about to embark on an incredible journey of challenges and triumph. Your judgment and leadership will shape the future of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, so I ask you to be prepared to work hard and always remember that you were elected to a greater position of service. Measure every decision you will make against how it will improve things for your fellow Auxiliarists and better execute the mission of the Coast Guard,” he said.
He described his two years of service as National Commodore as an incredible experience and was grateful for the opportunity. “We have accomplished a lot of things that I believe will position the Auxiliary to provide better service to the Coast Guard and America’s boating public.”
He commented about the modernization process and the positive benefits of having the Auxiliary Sector Coordinators. He mentioned the realignment of the Districts that allows the Auxiliary to align with the Coast Guard units they serve. He enumerated some of the changes then stated, “Your modernization plans are right on the money and I am gratified to see so many of you moving ahead at flank speed.”
He reflected on two years ago when he asked the Conference to focus on the three words that would form the foundation of his term of office. “Those three words were recruiting, retention and responsibility.”
He stated that there was a good job with recruiting with total membership up over 5% this past year. He mentioned marine safety statistics, mission and hours at an all time high.
“Each of us has to recognize our responsibility to prepare ourselves to mentor others and to support the changes that will occur around us. Recruiting, retention and responsibility must be a fundamental part of every leader’s thoughts,” he said.
He described the proud moment in Toronto last year when the Team from District 7 won the International competitions. He also thanked Mr. Al Verdi, from District 11 South, who was awarded the prestigious Greenoff Award. “This award is given to the top Flotilla Commander in the United States and Al has done an outstanding job, exhibiting superb leadership out in Southern California.”
He described a heroic rescue that occurred in Homer, Alaska where an Auxiliary crew saved 13 people from a 40 foot boat just before it rolled over and sank. . “The outstanding crew will be recognized by the Association for Rescue at Sea in a special ceremony in Washington, DC,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishment.”
He thanked his “amazing team of leaders and managers.” He included his entire National Board, appointed and elected officers. He thanked the Admiral’s in the audience saying, “I am grateful for the outstanding support of the Coast Guar’s senior executive corps… every day they are there for us whenever we needed their expertise.”
He thanked the Director of Auxiliary’s staff at Coast Guard Headquarters. “Thank you for your dedication and support that you’ve given to me and the members of the Auxiliary.
He thanked the spouses of Auxiliarists “without whom we could not give the time and attention our volunteer efforts demand.” Looking at his wife, Mary Kay, he said, “I love you and owe you big time. And I guess payback starts very soon.”
In closing he said, “I thank each of you for the incredible work and dedication to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, for your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your loved ones.”
~HRW