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Letter to the editor

'Coast Guard City' status sought

Clearwater, home to two bases, seeks closer ties with the U.S. Coast Guard.

By JONATHAN ABEL, Times Staff Writer
Published December 26, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [U.S. Coast Guard] The U.S. Coast Guard Band will make a rare local appearance next month. The free Jan. 31 concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall is being sponsored by the local Navy League Council.

CLEARWATER - In a rare local appearance, the U.S. Coast Guard Band plans to wrap up a free concert next month with The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

But supporters of the service hope their efforts to get Clearwater designated as a "Coast Guard City" will go marching on.

The Jan. 31 concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall is being sponsored by the local Navy League Council as part of its effort to strengthen the ties between Clearwater and the Coast Guard.

"The idea of the Coast Guard City is really to show that the community supports the Coast Guard," said Dr. Jim King, president of the Clearwater Council of the Navy League.

"It's patriotic," said Mayor Frank Hibbard, "just thanking the people who oftentimes are taken for granted, which I think the Coast Guard is."

Anyone who has watched the skies or waters around Clearwater knows the Coast Guard has a big presence here.

Clearwater boasts two bases - Station Sand Key, with roughly 70 members, and Air Station Clearwater, with 550 service men and women assigned to it.

The air station claims to be the busiest Coast Guard air station in the country, supporting missions across the Southeast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Station Sand Key conducts water operations from Treasure Island to Weeki Wachee.

It seems only natural, then, that Clearwater should have close ties to the Coasties.

King said the Navy League and the local community have shown the city's support by celebrating the Coast Guard's birthday, raising donations for Coast Guard charities and attending Coast Guard award ceremonies.

But the process of earning official recognition as a "Coast Guard City" is not so simple.

The city must document a history of its support for the Coast Guard.

Then the mayor or city manager must send a letter to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

An internal Coast Guard committee reviews the application and forwards it on to the commandant, who then approves or rejects it.

The application can also be reviewed by a congressional oversight committee.

If all goes well, the city would earn the designation for a 5-year term.

There are roughly half a dozen cities in the country that have been named a "Coast Guard City."

Hibbard said he aims to send a letter to the Coast Guard in February if the application package looks strong enough.

"We don't want to misfire," he said.

Jonathan Abel can be reached at jabel@sptimes.com or 727 445-4157.

Fast facts

To get band tickets

The U.S. Coast Guard Band is scheduled to play at Ruth Eckerd Hall at 7 p.m. Jan. 31. This performance is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For a maximum of four tickets, visit Sam Ash Music at 923 N McMullen-Booth Road or call (727) 725-8062. Or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to USCG Band Tickets, 2381 Ashmore Drive, Clearwater, FL 33763 by Jan. 2.

[Last modified December 25, 2007, 21:48:13]