This Saturday, October 20, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at Manhattan’s Pier 25, at West Street and N. Moore Street, on the Hudson River, the retired U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Lilac will be hosting a celebration of 79th anniversary of the founding of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary with a special Radio Day event. The Lower Manhattan Flotilla of the Auxiliary will install a ham radio station on the Liliac which will open to the public especially for the afternoon. Visitors will be able to learn about the importance of radio in maritime communications by observing operators send and receive messages as part of this nationwide Radio Day.
Auxiliarists will be on hand to discuss their work and provide information on recreational boating safety, a key part of their mission to support the Coast Guard. As always, Lilac‘s volunteers will share the ship’s story with visitors who wish to take a tour.
Lilac is a retired Coast Guard cutter that carried supplies to lighthouses and maintained buoys from 1933 to 1972. USCGC Lilac is America’s only surviving steam-powered lighthouse tender and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lilac is now a museum ship, owned and operated by the non-profit Lilac Preservation Project and is open for tours, exhibits, and events during the Summer season while undergoing restoration.
I trust a sked will be set up with K6KPH, the ham radio call of KPH, the historical station that the Marine Radio Historical Society runs at Pt. Reyes.
Got my ham ticket back in the early 70’s, gave it up this year, just wasn’t using it.
Serving 7 years active duty in the US Coast Guard, 2 of which 1972-1974 at Coast Guard Captian of the Port Seattle, I became quite familiar with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
During the summer, Auxiliary members and their vessels would man 7 location through out Puget Sound responding to assistance calls as directed by CG Station Seattle or by direct contact with the public.
They performed there duties admirably protecting life and property, the Coast Guards mission.
My Greatest respect and gratitude go out to the Members of the
US Coast Guard Auxiliary.
I received my ticket in 1968 and joined the Coast Guard in 1970 where I became a Radioman.
During my time, I served with crew members that had been stationed aboard the Lilac.
When I was the Coast Guard Group Commander for the Hawaiian Islands in the late 80’s, I frequently called on the the Coast Guard Auxiliary on Molokai for search and rescue since they were the only resource that could reach those in distress in a timely manner. They did a superb job, and it cost the American taxpayer nothing! I’ve been a ham since the 60’s and a professional communicator since the 70’s.