[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 106 (Thursday, August 4, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   IN HONOR OF THE USCGC ``RED WOOD''

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 30th 
anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Red Wood. The Red Wood has 
served the Connecticut maritime community with distinction since her 
commissioning on August 4, 1964. As the first of the coastal buoy 
tenders, the Red Wood was considered state of the art for her time in 
engineering, work, and berthing spaces. After being built at the Coast 
Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD, the Red Wood was homeported in New 
London, CT, where it has served every since. Her area of responsibility 
covers the Connecticut coastline of the Long Island Sound from Watch 
Hill, RI, to the mouth of the East River in New York.
  During her career, the Red Wood has serviced over 1,000 aids to 
navigation including both buoys and lighthouses and she is a leader in 
technological advancements for aids to navigation. She has cared for 
and renovated nine lighthouses and served as the test platform for the 
differential global positioning system [DGPS], a system that places 
floating aids to navigation with unprecedented accuracy. The Red Wood 
also has served the needs of recreational boaters on Long Island Sound. 
The Red Wood's many important missions have included search and rescue, 
recreational boating safety, marine pollution control, and icebreaking.
  The Red Wood has worked around the clock to ensure the safety of the 
waterways under her jurisdiction. She has been able to keep the 
waterways open and safe even after hurricanes and northeasters. This 
has allowed the Long Island Sound and its adjoining waterways to remain 
operational without the loss of even one commercial traffic day.
  The Red Wood has been honored with numerous commendations in her 30-
year career. She has received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon 
with Operational Distinguishing Device, two Coast Guard Meritorious 
Unit Commendation Ribbons with Operational Distinguishing Device, the 
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation Ribbon, two National Defense 
Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and two Coast Guard Special 
Operations Service Ribbons.
  The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Red Wood has had and will continue to 
have an illustrious career. Her 30th anniversary is a perfect time to 
recognize and honor her and the officers and enlisted personnel who 
have served on her these past 30 years. Today, I commend the Red Wood 
and thank her for her faithful service to the people of Connecticut. 
She has truly given meaning to the Coast Guard motto, ``Semper 
Paratus.''

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