U.S. Coast Guard Cutter TACKLE Lends Volunteers an Extra Hand at Rockland
Breakwater Light
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
Maintaining an historic lighthouse and keeping it
accessible to the public, especially one like Rockland Breakwater
located on end of a 7/8 mile-long breakwater isn’t a matter of
volunteers just showing up and opening the doors.
The volunteers of the Friends of Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse must also outfit the structure each year with
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Crewmembers of the USCGC TACKLE help
volunteers unload supplies at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
the proper
equipment and supplies necessary for operating their restoration and
educational programs, while re-stocking items like cleaning materials and
merchandise on a regular basis.
Though the volunteers are often seen carrying tote bags laden with supplies
out to the lighthouse, there are some vital tasks that are best handled with
additional helping hands.
On July 1st the U.S. Coast Guard cutter TACKLE provided some
extra hands and muscle by transporting supplies and equipment to the 1902
beacon for the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse (FRBL), a chapter
of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
USCGC TACKLE (WYTL 65604) at Rockland
Breakwater Light on July 1, 2009
Following Boatswain’s Mate First Class Keith Nichols
maneuvering of the cutter against the docking float at the lighthouse,
the TACKLE crewmembers proceeded to offload the FBRL supply items from
the ship and carry them up the gangway to the lighthouse.
In addition, the Coastguardsmen were able to help
employees of
Maine Coast Construction, who are restoring the boathouse at Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, lift and carry a very heavy timber from the gangway
to inside the boathouse. The timber was a vital replacement beam that was to
be used for the restoration project.
The cutter’s assistance at the lighthouse lends support to the ongoing
community-based public access and education programs of the Friends of
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, as well as with the ongoing restoration
efforts at the historic site.
“It is really important to stay connected to the community in which we
serve,” said Boatswain’s Mate Chief John Anders, officer-in-charge of the
cutter TACKLE. “There are individuals throughout our
community that volunteer their time to lighthouse preservation and
education, so it always feels good to help their efforts whenever we
can.”
BMC Anders, who will end his tour of duty aboard TACKLE
on August 7, 2009, went on to note, “I feel extremely fortunate to have
had the opportunity to be a part of maintaining the lighthouses and
other aids to navigation located throughout Penobscot Bay. It has been a
rewarding experience.”
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
BMC John Anders, officer-in-charge
of USCGC TACKLE
The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter TACKLE that helped the Friends of
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse on July 1, 2009 was comprised of:
BMC John Anders, BM1 Keith Nichols, MK1 DJ Gentile, MK2 Eugene Peters, SN
Dan Kimbrell, SN Matthew Goode, SN Warren Gardner and Auxiliarist Bob
Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
(L to R) SN
Matthew Goode, MK2 Eugene Peters, MK1 DJ Gentile and SN Dan Kimbrell
help carry equipment & supplies into the lighthouse
BM1 Keith
Nichols, executive petty officer aboard USCGC TACKLE
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
TACKLE's
assistance at the lighthouse shows there is more than one way the Coast
Guard helps keep the lights shining
