Auxiliarists Welcome Home
Coast Guardsman Returning From Iraq

by Auxiliarists Ira & Arline Dolich, District Conference Coordinators, D5-NR, Marlton, NJ

(L to R) Auxiliarist Ira Dolich, CPO Michael Bazis, Auxiliarist Arline Dolich

In addition to our activities with the USCG Auxiliary, Flotilla 66, D5-NR, we devote time to a group known as the Yellow Ribbon Club.  Members of the Yellow Ribbon Club are volunteers who provide care packages for servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Yellow Ribbon Club members also coordinate and attend welcome home celebrations for returning servicemen and woman in their hometown communities.

There have been many welcoming events for members of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force.  However, the U.S. Coast Guard has not been represented, at least locally, until Coast Guard CPO Michael “Rocky” Bazis returned from Iraq to his home and family in Audubon, New Jersey. 

Chief Bazis is a 30-year veteran of the Coast Guard and this completed his second tour of duty in Iraq where he was involved with ship cargo inspections. 

These celebrations include the local fire and police departments, emergency medical services, Warrior Watch Riders, Patriot Guard and Last Patrol Riders, and, of course, citizens of the local community. 

As members of both the Auxiliary and The Yellow Ribbon Club, we were excited and honored to be part of the welcoming home festivities for Chief Bazis.  These celebrations draw the major and local newspapers and we had the opportunity to talk about the Coast Guard’s little known (by the public) role in Iraq.  Of course, we put in a big “plug” for the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s efforts as well as support role of the Coast Guard.

Although we have participated in other celebrations, this one was special as it was a rare opportunity to welcome home one of our own.

~HRW