Photo Release: Chatham County designated an official Coast Guard community

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/18/2018 04:02 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Photo Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
Office: 904-714-7606/7607
After Hours: 305-318-1864
PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

Chatham County designated an official Coast Guard community

Albert Scott, Chairman of Chatham County, addresses the audience Oct. 18, 2018, during a Coast Guard Community Designation Ceremony for Chatham, County in Savannah, Georgia. A Coast Guard Community is an honorary designation recognizing communities’ special efforts to celebrate the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson) Admiral Karl L. Schultz, left, Commandant of the Coast Guard, and Albert Scott, right, Chairman of Chatham County, applaud while the Chatham County Coast Guard Community sign is unveiled Oct. 18, 2018, during a Coast Guard Community Designation Ceremony for Chatham, County in Savannah, Georgia. A Coast Guard Community is an honorary designation recognizing communities’ special efforts to celebrate the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson)Admiral Karl L. Schultz, middle, Commandant of the Coast Guard, addresses the crowd Oct. 18, 2018, during a Coast Guard Community Designation Ceremony for Chatham, County in Savannah, Georgia. A Coast Guard Community is an honorary designation recognizing communities’ special efforts to celebrate the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson) Wanda Doyle, Councilmember of the City of Tybee Island, presents Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard, a key to the city of Tybee Island Oct. 18, 2018, during a Coast Guard Community Designation Ceremony for Chatham, County in Savannah, Georgia. A Coast Guard Community is an honorary designation recognizing communities’ special efforts to celebrate the service and sacrifice of Coast Guard men and women. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson)

Editor's Note: Click on image to download a high-resolution version.

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. 

Following the ceremony, an Air Station Savannah helicopter crew conducted a search and rescue demonstration in the Savannah River and the members of the public were given tours of additional Coast Guard units. 

More information about Coast Guard communities can be found here. 

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

 

-USCG-