Baptism held aboard Coast Guard Cutter Thetis

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 786-367-7649 7th District online newsroom

Baptism held aboard Coast Guard Cutter Thetis

  

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MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis baptized two babies in the ship’s bell during a ceremony in Key West Feb. 15.

 

Conor Grayson Goff, son of Chief Petty Officer Dakota Goff and Madison Cecilia Sonnier, daughter of Petty Officer 1^st Class James Sonnier, were baptized in the cutter’s bell during the ancient naval ceremony. Conor and Madison became the first names engraved in the cutter Thetis’ bell as part of a long naval tradition.

 

“My wife and I love being able to share our spiritual and maritime tradition as a family,” said Goff.

 

Goff’s first child, Emmalyn, was also baptized on the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane while he was stationed aboard the cutter.

 

The tradition dates back hundreds of years and it was believed the spirits of those engraved in the bell would oversee the safety of the vessel through its service.

 

“I will retire before my daughter is old enough to understand that she was baptized on a Coast Guard vessel,” said Sonnier. “When she is older, I want to bring her back to the cutter and show her where her name was engraved on the ship’s bell.”

This tradition of baptizing babies in the ship’s bell was created for children born at sea or in foreign ports, and is still carried out aboard Coast Guard and Navy ships.

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-USCG-