Coast Guard Alaska Awards dinner set for Aug. 10

Men and women who serve on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore will be honored in Anchorage on Aug. 10 at the Coast Guard Foundation’s 2016 Alaska Awards dinner.
Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, commandant of the Coast Guard is set to deliver keynote remarks and Rear Admiral Michael McAllister, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, will speak.
Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, a top contender in the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Willow to Nome, will be a special guest at the event.

Commander James Jarnac and others will accept recognition on behalf of the 50 crewmembers of the 225-foot seagoing buoy tender. Their responsibilities include search and rescue, law enforcement missions, opening sea-lanes through ice congested waterways and assisting in containing and recovering oil spills.

Last year the crew of the Sycamore had an outstanding record of professional accomplishments spanning multiple Coast Guard missions, including 46 at-sea boardings and 43 commercial fishing vessel safety examinations.

In one case, the Sycamore led a multi-unit response to search for a downed aircraft. The search included the Coast Guard Cutter Mustang, a small boat crew from Coast Guard Station Valdez, a C-130 plane and MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Kodiak, as well as an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter, in weather conditions that reduced visibility to 200 yards.

The crew has also strengthened partnerships with the community of Cordova, as well as several Alaska Native Villages, the Coast Guard said.

More information about the Coast Guard Foundation is online at
www.coastguardfoundation.org

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