[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 118 (Thursday, September 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    COMMEMORATING THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF AIR STATION CAPE COD

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                        HON. WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2000

  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the thirtieth 
anniversary of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. For all of us who 
go to the sea, for pleasure or by profession, the Air Station has been 
an enormously reassuring presence all these years.
  Since its commissioning in 1970, Air Station Cape Cod has performed 
more than 10,000 search-and-rescue missions, saved 3,500 lives and 
saved more than $450 million in property--all this while safeguarding 
our natural resources and seizing shipments of illegal drugs bound for 
our shores. It's all in a long day's work--and often a long night's 
work as well--for the personnel of the U.S. Coast Guard.
  While the breathtaking heroics of the men and women of the Air 
Station have recently been made famous by recent feature films, perhaps 
the most fitting tribute comes from the grateful communities served by 
the men and women of the Air Station. I am pleased to enter in today's 
Congressional Record the following words of appreciation from a recent 
edition of the Cape Cod Times newspaper.

                [From the Cape Cod Times, Aug. 30, 2000]

                     Air Station Cape Cod Turns 30

                           (By Kevin Dennehy)

       Air Station Cape Cod--Ed Greiner won't soon forget the week 
     last summer he moved his family to Cape Cod to assume his 
     duty as executive officer at the local Coast Guard 
     installation.
       That same weekend, John F. Kennedy Jr.'s airplane dove into 
     the Atlantic Ocean. And within hours, the tragedy sparked one 
     of the largest Coast Guard searches ever undertaken off Cape 
     shores, and a media swarm that enveloped the Upper Cape air 
     station for several days.
       But then, it was not that much different than what the 
     Coast Guard does on a regular basis, Greiner says.
       ``Sure, it was hectic,'' he said yesterday. ``But it was a 
     large version of what we're trained to do, and do everyday.''
       They've been doing what they do at Air Station Cape Cod 
     since August 1970. Yesterday, the Coast Guard marked its 30th 
     anniversary with a quiet ceremony at one of the station's 
     hangars.
       It's been a busy three decades. Since 1970, pilots and 
     crews have responded to more than 9,500 calls--nearly one 
     search-and-rescue mission per day during that time. As of 
     yesterday, they'd saved 3,312 lives and prevented the loss of 
     $455 million worth of property.
       ``For recreational boaters and those who use the water to 
     make a living, it adds a measure of safety,'' Greiner said. 
     ``If folks get into trouble, we're always standing ready to 
     assist.''
       One of the busiest of America's 24 air stations, Air 
     Station Cape Cod started operating when Air Station Salem and 
     Air Detachment Quonset Point, R.I., were consolidated in 
     1970.
       About 400 employees work at the station, including 250 
     active-duty members.
       And with more than 2,000 people--including those from other 
     military branches--living in the nearly 700 units of Coast 
     Guard housing, it's the largest continuous presence on the 
     base.
       These days, the Coast Guard uses four Jayhawks and four HU-
     25 Falcon jets to conduct nearly 300 rescue missions each 
     year.
       The Coast Guard also assists in law enforcement and fishing 
     zone enforcement; is involved in drug interdiction; and 
     repairs navigational aids throughout the northern Atlantic.
       ``It's a great job,'' said Lt. Bill Bellatty, who flies a 
     HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter at the station. ``It's always great 
     when you save lives. It's when it's nasty out that it's 
     terrible. That's when we earn our money.''

     

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