OCEAN CITY — This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the United States Coast Guard. To recognize this milestone, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will host a dinner on Friday, June 19, and a breeches buoy rescue re-enactment on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 10 a.m. on the beach between the inlet and the pier.
“This event advances the mission of the museum to support the historical role performed by the United States Life-Saving Service, and to preserve .… the 1891 structure that once served as the Ocean City Station. We are delighted to honor the Coast Guard, which has been a welcome presence in Ocean City since 1878,” said Museum Society President Nancy Howard.
The breeches buoy was used in the 19th and early 20th century to bring passengers and crew members to safety from ships wrecked at sea. The museum, in partnership with the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum of Rehoboth Beach, Del. and the U.S. Coast Guard, will sponsor such a rescue. A Lyle gun will fire a line over a wreck pole (representing the mast of a ship), a series of lines and pulleys will be added, and a breeches buoy will carry a “survivor” from the foundering ship to the shore.
The equipment will be borrowed from the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum which is owned and operated by Delaware State Parks. The wreck pole was built by Ocean City’s Public Works Carpentry Division. Laura Scharle, Interpretive Programs Manager for Delaware Seashore State Park, oversees the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum, where they re-enact the Breeches Buoy Rescue Drill several times each summer.
“We are honored and delighted to be a part of this event,” said Scharle. “We’ve been performing the breeches buoy rescue drill in Delaware for over eight years now, and we are eager to partner with the Ocean City Life-Saving Station to reach a new audience and pay tribute to the brave men of the U.S. Life-Saving Service that performed these heroic rescues.”
The lineage of the Coast Guard began in 1790 with the formation of the Revenue Cutter Service that merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service in 1915 to become the U.S. Coast Guard.
In addition to the historic rescue re-enactment, the Coast Guard will execute a 21st Century water rescue bringing in modern day equipment including an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a 47-foot motor life boat off shore.
The Ocean City Beach Patrol will also demonstrate, as they do daily, the rescue of swimmers.
“The crew at station Ocean City are looking forward to participating in the re-enactment of how rescues were executed from the shore to the wrecks. We are honored to have the most senior enlisted member of the Coast Guard speak to some historical events regarding the Life Saving Service. It’s a great free event offering camaraderie with members from the active duty Coast guard, members of the museum, the Town of Ocean City and the tourists,” said Timaree Sparks of the Coast Guard.
On Friday, June 19, Master Chief Steven W. Cantrell will be the guest speaker at a dinner to be held at the Clarion. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) is a unique non-commissioned rank and position in the United States Coast Guard.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and dinner at 7 p.m. Cost is $42 per person. For reservations, visit www.ocmuseum.org or call 410-289-4991.