WATCH: U.S. Coast Guard Marks 233rd Anniversary During Celebration at Station in Port Canaveral
By Steve Wilson // August 6, 2023
Steve Wilson attended Coast Guard Day at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Port Canaveral
WATCH: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson was at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Port Canaveral, as they celebrated 233 years of service. There were displays, family activities, a water slide bounce house, and much more, for those that attended to enjoy. Multiple sponsors were on hand to support the event.
USCG Commander Sarah Brennan: Every August 4th is special to us.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Coast Guard Day was held at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Port Canaveral on Friday to celebrate 233 years of service. There were displays, family activities, a water slide bounce house, and much more, for those that attended to enjoy. Multiple sponsors were on hand to support the event.
I was fortunate to attend and enjoy the festivities, and the food and also spoke with several current and former Coast Guard personnel.
Chief Warrant Officer Phillip DeWalt gave those in attendance a hearty welcome and I spoke with USCG Commander Sarah Brennan, the commanding officer of the Marine Safety Unit Port Canaveral.
I asked Commander Brennan what Coast Guard Day meant to her and she said, “Every August 4th is special to us. I am so proud of the Coast Guard, proud of our mission set, what we do here every day, and the American public we get to serve.”
I asked Rear Admiral Wayne Justice, USCG (Ret), what is something the public might not know about the Coast Guard. He said, “Not only do we do search and rescue, and law enforcement, but we are also in charge of cruise ship safety.”
He went on to say, “Right now we are the largest cruising port in the world. The safety of those people, meaning the ships, the lifeboats, the life jackets, all the procedures” including firefighting safety, are the responsibility of the Coast Guard.”
We are very fortunate to have the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Brevard County. And I was honored to attend their 233rd year-of-service anniversary. Thank you for everything you do.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018 and Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020.
Wilson is especially proud of is chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
