COAST GUARD CUTTER SPAR CHRISTENED AND
LAUNCHED
By Jack A. Eckert
Marinette, Wisconsin 8/12/2000 -- Under a
beautiful Wisconsin Sky the brand new Coast Guard Cutter Spar was christened by
Attorney General Janet Reno and launched at the Marinette Marine Corporation
today in the presence of 80 to 100 World War II Coast Guard SPARs and another
2000 or more guests.
Preceding Ms. Reno were remarks delivered by Congressman Stupak, Senator
Kohl, Vice Admiral Josiah, Coast Guard Chief of Staff and Mr. Dan Gulling, a representative of
the Builder. The prospective Commanding Officer LCDR Joanna Nunan brought tears to
everyone's eyes when she described her emotions when she would be announced on board her new
ship; "SPAR ABOARD"
As a female Coast Guard Commanding Officer of the SPAR, she represents all
of the 11,000 SPARs who served so notably in World War II.
The audience was entertained by the Coast Guard Band with stirring marches
one of which surprisingly was the "Alte Kamaraden" Some 60 SPAR's and
a few others formed on the dock and marched in formation and in uniform to their
seats of honor in front of the podium.
Ms. Reno breaks the traditional bottle of champaine across the
bow and the
ship slowly slips sideways into the water, heeling over and then righting herself.
By 12 Noon the SPAR's, Dignitaries, invited guests and
onlookers left the shipyard.
The Spar will be homeported in Juneau, Alaska.
The Announcement from the Coast Guard website of the launching
of the SPAR follows this short article.
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From The Coast Guard Website:
| Cutter
Named After Women's World War II Service |
|
|
ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO TO
LAUNCH COAST GUARD CUTTER
The U. S. Coast Guard will honor its women who served in
WWII during a August 12 launching ceremony for Coast Guard Cutter SPAR (WLB 206) at
Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wisconsin. U. S. Attorney General Janet Reno
will serve as keynote speaker and sponsor. The launch ceremony will begin at 10:00 am.
- Other speakers will include U. S. Senator Herbert Kohl, (D-WI), Bart Stupak (D-MI) and
Vice Admiral Timothy Josiah, Chief of Staff, U.S. Coast Guard
- The SPAR will be named after the 11,000 women who served in the United States Coast
Guard during World War II. "Semper Paratus – Always Ready," the Coast Guard
motto, was condensed to the S.P.A.R. acronym to symbolize the woman’s corps because
it reflected their attitude and willingness to contribute to the war effort. Like the Army
WACs (Women’s Army Corps), Air Force WASPs (Womens Airforce Service Pilots) and the
Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), the SPARs were integral to
the Allied victory in World War II.
- In addition to success in their wartime role, the pioneering service of the Women’s
Reserves helped to lay a cornerstone for the future integration of females into the Coast
Guard, where all opportunities and jobs are open to women. Nearly a hundred Coast Guard
SPAR veterans will attend the ceremony.
- Attorney General Reno’s aunt served as an Air Force WASP during World War II,
- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPAR is a 225-ft seagoing buoy tender that will serve in
Kodiak, Alaska under the command of LCDR Joanna Nunan. It will have a complement of six
officers and 34 enlisted personnel. SPAR will join her sister cutters, now operating in
both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which form a new fleet of technically advanced and
highly capable buoy tenders. SPAR is equipped to perform search and rescue, law
enforcement, pollution response and domestic icebreaking missions as well as servicing
aids to navigation. The newest SPAR is the second Coast Guard vessel to bear the name. The
first was launched in 1944 and decommissioned in 1997.
- Press Credentials MUST be picked up at Marinette Marine’s Security Desk prior to
entering the shipyard. Press Kits with detailed information will be available at the
launch ceremony, by the refreshment tent.
- For web links and more information, check the Coast Guard’s news page at
http://www.uscg.mil/news/cgnews.html
|
|
| Characteristics |
| Length: |
225 feet |
| Beam: |
46 feet |
| Draft: |
13 feet |
| Displacement: |
2,000 tons |
| Buoy Deck Area: |
2,875 square feet |
| Power plant: |
Two Cat 3608, 3100 BHP@900 RPM diesel engines |
| Primary Missions: |
Aids to Navigation, Law Enforcement,
Ice Operations, Search & Rescue, Marine Environmental Protection |
| Typical Crew: |
40 Personnel (6 Officers, 34 Enlisted) |
|
|
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