Local Veterans Visit USCG Training Center

 

CAPE MAY, N.J. – Residents of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home attended the graduation ceremony of the Coast Guard’s newest members, Friday, aboard the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May.

The visiting veterans were treated to a tour of the training center by Sean Boone, a member of the Cape May Chapter of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Association and part of the Facilities Engineering Department on board the training center. Afterwards, the group attended the graduation ceremony for Recruit Company Bravo 196 where they were recognized by the command who thanked them for their service to the nation.

The training center’s connection to the veterans’ home is born out of one of its current residents having been assigned to the training center during their career.

Members of the Cape May Chapter of the Chief Petty Officers Association often take trips to the home in order to visit with the residents. This is the first time that the veterans have come aboard the training center.

“One of the goals of the Chief Petty Officers Association is to honor history,” said Boone. “Having the ability to bring aboard veterans from different services who served during different, and significant, periods in our nation’s history is important because it is a way to connect our newest military members to that history in a real and meaningful way. It reinforces the fact that these new members have big boots to fill and a legacy of service to uphold.”

The group was comprised of veterans from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Marines and Coast Guard who served in World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War.