A ceremony designating Chatham County as an official Coast Guard community was held Thursday at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia.
During the ceremony, Al Scott, the Chatham County Chairman, received a designation from Adm. Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard, designating Chatham County as an official Coast Guard community.
Members from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Marine Safety Unity Savannah, and Station Tybee Island joined Savannah Police Department, Savannah Fire Department, Savannah Mayor Pro-Tempore Carolyn Bell, Tybee Island City Council member Wanda Doyle, and U.S. Representative Buddy Carter for the official ceremony.
“The Coast Guard is excited to present the people of Chatham County with a designation as a Coast Guard community,” said Cmdr. Brian Erickson, commanding officer of Air Station Savannah. “All of our local Coast Guard men and women are privileged to serve a community that cares so much for their local military.”
Established by Congress in 1998, a Coast Guard Community is an honorary designation recognizing communities’ special efforts to celebrate the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women.
This honor, bestowed by the Commandant of the Coast Guard with approval from Congress, recognizes Chatham County’s longstanding efforts to embrace Coast Guard men, women, and families stationed in Chatham County. The county’s efforts illustrate a longstanding and enduring relationship, with an emphasis on considerations the community has made, for the members of the Coast Guard family.
