Flotilla 75 Pays Respect to Fallen Heroes
Memorial Day, May 28th, 2007

Flotilla 75 participated in the first flag raising at Riverside Club, Ruskin, Florida. Contacted by Marvin Bayles of Flotilla 72, who recently moved to the community, five members attended the ceremony to represent Team Coast Guard. Mr. Bob Russell, President of the Homeowner's Association, requested the members, who attended in uniform, raise the flags in honor of our fallen heroes.

Mr. Bayles and Guy Mandigo, FSO-PE, started the ceremony with the raising of the American Flag during which the National Anthem was played. Many of the residents of the association sang with heartfelt appreciation while the flag was raised and then lowered to half mast in honor of those who served so proudly in service to our country. Patrick Costello, VFC 75, William Zimmerman, Walter Wagner, FSO-VE, and James Smyth from Flotilla 75 Ruskin then proceeded to raise the flags from the five branches service: Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force flags. The Fifth Flag had it's own place of Distinction, that being the Coast Guard flag, which was flown over the new marina.

photos by Kay Lori