[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 65 (Friday, May 1, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E642-E643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE CITY OF CAPE MAY AS A UNITED STATES COAST GUARD COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 1, 2015

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the County of Cape May on its 
designation as a ``Coast Guard Community'' on October 1, 2014 by the 
United States Coast Guard and the United States Congress.
  In 1924, the Coast Guard established operations to support U.S. 
Customs efforts in Sewell's Point. By 1948, the Training Center, which 
is the only recruit training facility in the country, became the entry-
level training facility for all of the East Coast and eventually the 
entire country. Today, the base has more than 860 military and civilian 
personnel, and graduates an average of more than 2,300 recruits yearly.
  This new designation reflects the mutually beneficial relationship 
between the Coast Guard and Cape May County. Over the years, the 
recruits and military and civilian personnel have become part of our 
Cape May County family. And nothing says family more than Operation 
Fireside. Since the program's inception

[[Page E643]]

in 1981, Operation Fireside places more than 500 recruits with over 180 
families each year to celebrate the Thanksgiving and Christmas 
holidays.
  On May 8, the people of Cape May County and the United States Coast 
Guard will celebrate this designation at the Training Center in Cape 
May. My thanks to all who helped make this designation a reality.

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