News

It is with great sadness that I report to you that longtime board member Henry Fairley III passed away on February 17, 2012. Henry began his service to the board in 1990 and was honored with emeritus status in 2005. During his tenure he served as secretary and was a member of the executive committee.

He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was awarded a Coast Guard Administrative Merit Award and a Department of Transportation Meritorious Service Award.

The Coast Guard Foundation Cup planned for April 27-29 in Annapolis, Maryland has been postponed until 2013. The postponement ensures that the long-distance race will be a success next year.

"While we expect a good roster of participants, we need more sponsorships to underwrite the event and secure it as one of the Foundation's annual, or semi-annual fundraising events," Foundation President Anne B. Brengle said. "Postponing it to 2013 will also enhance the Cup's profile as a feeder race for the Annapolis to Newport Race, and will provide sailors and their boats with a competitive, local overnight distance race to ready themselves for longer race in June."

President Harry Truman said, "Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid." And while we cannot repay these fine individuals, we can honor their service, which is what the Coast Guard Foundation does with its Tribute to the Coast Guard in Our Nation's Capital on June 12, 2012 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

It's with great sadness that we relay the news of the passing of Walcott "Wally" Younger, a Coast Guard Foundation Trustee, who passed away in Seattle, Washington on January 10. Mr. Younger, who was born August 28, 1928 in New York City, served on the Foundation's board since 2001, and generously supported our mission in the Pacific Northwest.

For the past two years, the Coast Guard Foundation has hosted a website, one-in-a-million-rescued.org, that told the stories of people who had been rescued by the Coast Guard. The site was put up as a way to celebrate the more than one million rescues the Coast Guard has conducted since its founding in 1790. We've decided to take that site down and incorporate the stories we collected here on our main site.

The Coast Guard Foundation, in accordance with its bylaws, elected a new slate of officers to serve on the Board of Trustees, beginning January 1, 2012. The officers and executive committee serve as the governing body for the Board of Trustees.

It's with great sadness that we relay the news of the passing of K. Erik Baur, a long-time Coast Guard Foundation Trustee, who passed away at his home in Costa Mesa, California last month. Mr. Baur, who was born in 1917 in Gothenburg, Sweden, spent 17 years on the Foundation's board and helped strengthen our presence on the West Coast.

We're happy to announce that nearly 150 cutters throughout the Coast Guard received $250 grants to bolster their ship's libraries courtesy of the 2011 edition of the Coast Guard Foundation's "Books for Boats" program.

"Books for Boats" is a long-standing tradition that helps cuttermen who are underway to stay sharp by reading and maintaining their professional libraries. Crews are encouraged to purchase books that are on the Commandant's reading list, or books that suit their general interest. Commandant Adm. Robert Papp compiles the list to enable members of the service to share in a common learning experience.

TRICARE West Region beneficiaries can make managing their health care easier and support military families at the same time — just by choosing paperless options as part of TriWest Healthcare Alliance's "Go Green and Give" campaign. The Coast Guard Foundation is proud to say that we are one of four organizations that TriWest has selected to benefit from this program.

Our mission is to support Coast Guard members and their families. This support manifests itself in direct and indirect ways. We provide books and exercise equipment for cutter crews, or we endeavor on more ambitious projects, like constructing a playground for Coast Guard families to gather with their children in a safe, healthy environment.

But sometimes our support translates into something even more simple and basic — a night out on the town, to enjoy the company of your spouse, your colleagues and others in the Coast Guard community.