It was a picture-perfect Door County day Tuesday as elements of the US Coast Guard joined forces with representatives of the City of Sturgeon Bay, family, friends and visitors at the dedication of a 41-foot utility boat that had been a work horse for the service agency for four decades. Now the CG 41410 has a new mission as an exhibit on the grounds of the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. The vessel spent nearly all of its career on the great lakes, including two tours in Sturgeon Bay. She was the last operational 41-footer and, like the others in a long line going back to 1973, has been replaced by a 45-foot response boat. Bob Desh, a former Coast Guard Captain, former Executive Director of the Maritime Museum and Chairman of the city’s Coast Guard Committee, acted as master of ceremonies. Desh reminded the assembled crowd that the US Coast Guard begin its service to America on August 4th of 1790…
Desh also read from a proclamation from the Governor on the Coast Guard’s birthday. Sturgeon Bay Mayor Thad Birmingham provided the welcome and reiterated the community’s appreciation of its Coast Guard presence. Captain Amy Cocaour, Commander, Coast Guard sector Lake Michigan, said, over the
years, the utility boat had done its job and then some..
Captain John Little, Chief of Staff, 9th Coast Guard district, focused his remarks on the men and women who serve in duty station across the nation and added a personal reflection…
Speaking of reflections, retired Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Carie talked about the 41-foot utility boat and how the vessel had touched his life and the lives of his two children who have also served in the coast guard. Rick O’Farrell, Executive Director of the Door County Maritime Museum, closed out the ceremony by officiating at the hoisting of the colors and the exhibit’s opening. The Coast Guard song “Semper Paradis” brought the dedication ceremony to an end.
