[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3299-3300]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2014

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Camden County, GA in 
light of their recent designation as a Coast Guard Community. Camden is 
the first county in the nation to be given this distinguished 
distinction, as it normally only is given to cities. Camden, however, 
is such a great supporter of the Coast Guard, its personnel, its 
families, and its mission that the award was given to the county as a 
whole.
  Camden County is incredibly rich in history. Founded on February 5, 
1777, it is one of the oldest counties in Georgia. It was named for 
Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden, who was an

[[Page 3300]]

Englishman in favor of the American Independence. Modern day Camden 
County includes the cities of St. Mary's, Woodbine, and Kingsland and 
is home to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Kings Bay is the Atlantic 
Fleet's home port for U.S. Navy's ballistic missile nuclear submarines, 
the Ohio-class. It also is home to Cumberland Island National Seashore, 
a National Wilderness Area.
  With this honor, Camden County and its cities join 15 other cities to 
earn this designation, but Camden is the only to be labeled a 
Community. The designation was supported by the Congressional 
committees that oversee the Coast Guard and by the Coast Guard 
headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Coast Guard plays a major role in 
insuring the safety and security of Camden County and the Georgia 
Coast. Two teams are stationed in Camden County: the Maritime Force 
Protection Unit, which protects Navy assets at Kings Bay, and the 
Maritime Safety and Security Team 91108, which was established 
following the
9/11 attacks.
  This honor would not have been possible without the strong support of 
many groups in Camden County. The Camden Partnership, which was created 
to support both Navy and Coast Guard members in Camden, made visits to 
210 congressional offices to support restoring the Coast Guard budget 
when the group faced budget cuts. The Coast Guard Community of Camden 
organizes events and programs in support of Coast Guard members and 
families. The local Navy League awards its Coast Guard Sailor of the 
Year, and the Chamber of Commerce supports a military member of the 
month.
  Camden County is a proud community and a model for the nation. I 
consider myself fortunate to represent such an incredible group of 
people, and I am thankful for the hard work and tireless dedication 
they display for the men and women who protect us.

                          ____________________