Those words were heard by members of the United States Congress on 16 July 2013. They were spoken by the US Democratic Party's Wisconsin Representative... Thomas Petri. With decades of political credentials at the federal and state level, Petri rose to address the House of Representatives with a proposal that an American hero be remembered for his bravery in a very special way. And in so doing, his contemporaries and former shipmates would also be so honoured for their continuing service to the nation. That, and the world, and usually with little fan fare when clearly much is due.
You are looking at a picture of a massive million sq ft project that is bigger than the Pentagon. It will ultimately house many branches of US government Home Security related agencies. And one of these is the United States Coast Guard, of which Mr. Petri was speaking.
This will be the first building that agency apparently will actually own.
Next week I hope to be standing in front to of it.
One of these buildings, at Washington DC is now named the Douglas A Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building. And this is in part, due to the tremendous work the US Coast Guard does to perpetuate the true heroism of First Class Signalman Douglas Munro who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
This will be the first building that agency apparently will actually own.
Next week I hope to be standing in front to of it.
One of these buildings, at Washington DC is now named the Douglas A Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building. And this is in part, due to the tremendous work the US Coast Guard does to perpetuate the true heroism of First Class Signalman Douglas Munro who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Douglas's father worked in the railroad and power station business and worked for years in the Vancouver area of BC. Soon after the birth of Douglas (pictured to right) and his sister, the family moved across the border to the Seattle area, from which Douglas would get early schooling before joining the US Coast Guard in WW11. Past blogs have brought you several mentions of his heroism, that cost him his life on September 27 1944 at Guadalcanal. President FD Roosevelt awarded Douglas with a posthumous Medal of Honor, and actually presented it to Douglas's mother at a White House service later that year.
The US Government and the Coast Guard itself have done much to help keep Douglas' story alive. There are streets, and buildings, and monuments and statues and markers and his very grave site, which is a state historic site, to remind us of the bravery of the Coast Guard men and women, and in particular, Doug who was, and remains, the only member of the Coast Guards to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor.
There is also a move afoot to create a new commemorative coin for the USCG and some thoughts have the coin possibly displaying an image of Douglas. I will keep my eyes open for news on that and bring it forth as it becomes available.
The US Government and the Coast Guard itself have done much to help keep Douglas' story alive. There are streets, and buildings, and monuments and statues and markers and his very grave site, which is a state historic site, to remind us of the bravery of the Coast Guard men and women, and in particular, Doug who was, and remains, the only member of the Coast Guards to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor.
There is also a move afoot to create a new commemorative coin for the USCG and some thoughts have the coin possibly displaying an image of Douglas. I will keep my eyes open for news on that and bring it forth as it becomes available.
This is the WW11, Korea and Vietnam era Coast Guard Cutter Munro, and to the right is the Alaska based cutter of the same name, both obviously named in honor of Douglas. Next Friday the 27th, will mark the 71st anniversary since Douglas took his crew of boats in to rescue 500 US Marines. Both the Marines and Coast Guard for years have making the Munro story a point of instruction at their basic training camps.
This year on the 27th, like so many in the past, the local Seattle area CG family hold a service for Douglas at his grave marker. This year they will be unveiling the refurbished guns that were decaying over the years. The marker on the right actually stands in front of the left gun in the left picture above.
HIs late sister in an interview with me years ago noted that , in his youth, Douglas used to go to this very graveyard and practice with his trumpet. He would play taps over and over again to improve his skills. Perhaps he can still here them today in the same cemetery! She also added that the few times he got convinced to go hunting, he could not shoot... cause he did not want to kill anything.
Well folks, I'm off by car, by ferry, by bus, by plane and by car again to get to Gettysburg. Stay tuned for updates.
It all starts with me being very tired and in Seattle later today.
Maybe someday they will make a movie of me... Perhaps we could call it Sleepless in Seattle... Oh, they already did that you say!
Oops.
Bart
RSS Feed