Coast Guard Foundation to Tribute USCG Spouses

The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that its 21st Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard Eighth District will take place on Friday, March 14, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Admiral Robert J. Papp, commandant, U.S. Coast Guard and his wife, Linda Papp, will speak at the event. The Coast Guard Foundation’s New Orleans awards dinner is a celebration of the men and women serving in the U.S. Coast Guard's 8th District, which includes the Gulf Coast and the inland waterways of the country. This year, the Foundation will pay special tribute to seven Coast Guard spouses and the roles they play in keeping their Coast Guard families and communities strong, as well as honor long-time Coast Guard Foundation supporter Sean O’Keefe, chairman and CEO of Airbus Group, Inc.

“The Coast Guard Foundation is pleased to shine a light on seven super spouses who, day in and day out, support their families and other Coast Guard families around them in important ways,” said Anne Brengle, president, Coast Guard Foundation. “Everyday our Coast Guard members answer the call to help others and we are extremely thankful for their selfless service. However, what often flies under the radar is the support system in place for our brave service men and women. The individuals who hold down the fort and take care of family business while their significant others serve our country. This year in New Orleans, we celebrate the spouses of the U.S. Coast Guard members.”

Honorees for this year’s New Orleans tribute are:
•Katie Quillen of Aviation Training Center Mobile in Mobile, Alabama for her effort in welcoming new families to her community, as well as maintaining an informational social media page for spouses.
•Sarah Terveen of Marine Safety Unit Huntington in Barboursville, West Virginia for organizing several morale days throughout the year, helping new families find housing and providing assistance.
•Cara Doerr, Coast Guard Cutter CYPRESS in Pensacola, Florida, who helped crew members and families plan for unexpected deployments as a result of events such as a natural gas rig explosion and Tropical Storm Karen.
•Sedonia Cheatham, Air Station New Orleans, who helped families make emergency preparations for natural disasters.
•Hallie Conger, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas, who facilitates communication among families and manages numerous charitable efforts for Coast Guard children.
•Sophia Stitz, Marine Safety Detachment Quad Cities in Rock Island, Illinois, who lead a team of several spouses to prepare and provide a Thanksgiving dinner for 20 Coast Guard personnel deployed to manage the rescue and clean-up efforts associates with a sunken towboat with more than 90,000 gallons of oil.
•Alma Buckley, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, who acted as a vital link between the command structure and dependents during Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Karen, and organizes and streamlines information for spouses and families based at the station and local sub-stations.

The 21st Annual Coast Guard Foundation Tribute to the United States Coast Guard Eighth District will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014 at the Roosevelt New Orleans, 123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. A cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 pm with the dinner and program to follow at 7:30 pm. Registration to the event is available online at http://coastguardfoundation.org/events/calendar/event/9.

coastguardfoundation.org