CGHLS

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

Continued------------------------------------------>

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN

30th Naval Construction Regiment OIC, Logistics Cell One Al Taqqadum , Iraq

The summer of 2006, there have been 30 water related fatalities, 9 that involved drowning at various Great Lake Beaches according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 8 of the reported drowning occurred along the shores of Lake Michigan beaches between that include Michigan City, Indiana, and Muskegon.

Rip currents near piers and breakwaters were very strong and had the ability to carry individuals into deep water. Swimming near these piers and break walls in turbulent water can overpower the most experienced swimmers.

Per a report in the Bay City Times in August 2006; "since 2000 there have been 47 fatalities off Michigan beaches and piers. Of the number of fatalities reported thus far this summer 21 were as result of boating mishaps that include sinking, individuals falling from high speed boating, failing to utilize lifejackets and other flotation devices as well as the use of alcohol."

Besides the number of fatalities reported around the Great Lakes, Federal statistics have shown a 39% increase in drownings across the U.S. which has been blamed on the high summer temperatures. The numbers released also indicate the drownings have occurred in private pools, where children have been left unattended. Also the numbers of drownings and near drownings have also occurred in ponds lakes, rivers. With three weeks remaining before the return to school parents need to be better aware of hazards associated with family events around water and pools.

National Security Cutter completes acceptance trials

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that the first National Security Cutter, Bertholf, completed five days of acceptance trials in Pascagoula, Miss., In April, 2008.

Acceptance trials, notes the Coast Guard, culminate many months of preliminary tests and evaluations before a new ship can be delivered to the government by its contractors.

The U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) said, "(Bertholf) was found to be a unique and very capable platform with great potential for future service...Board recommends the USCG Commandant authorize acceptance, provided all (8) starred deficiencies are corrected or waived..."

More than 80 representatives of INSURV tested shipboard equipment, assessed the quality of Bertholf's construction, and evaluated the cutter's compliance with contractual specifications and requirements established by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard selected INSURV to conduct acceptance trials of the NSC based on its 125 years of naval engineering experience and technical expertise. During the course of the acceptance process, INSURV conducts inspections and surveys of the ship and systems to determine whether they are ready for delivery. In addition, they observe and determine if the contractor's equipment is operating satisfactorily in accordance with the contract requirements. INSURV records discrepancies using trial cards.

Trial cards document individual discrepancies or deficiencies that require corrective action. The Coast Guard has used this same trial card system during all previous trials to communicate discrepancies to the contractor.

For a first-in-class ship design, the U. S. Navy has traditionally seen between 6,000 and 16,000 trial cards written during sea trials. The National Security Cutter has generated approximately 2,800 trial cards. INSURV recognized that, of the total trial card amount, 1,360 were roll-over cards from previous trial events. Noting that fact in its message, the Board said it was a "testament to the superb quality assurance oversight provided during ship construction and testing by the USCG Project Manager's Representative Office (PMRO) and the Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SOS) Gulf Coast."

Over the next several weeks, government representatives will work with industry to correct discrepancies and develop plans for resolving outstanding issues.

Throughout April, trial cards will be resolved as quickly as possible.

On April 14, instrumented TEMPEST testing began. The next major step in Bertholf's transition to operational status is formal acceptance of the cutter as documented in the Material Inspection and Receiving Report, or DD250. The DD250 formally documents inspection, delivery by the contractor, and receipt by the government. Any outstanding discrepancies or work items requiring resolution will be annotated on the form. The signed DD250 represents conditional acceptance of the cutter by the Coast Guard from the contractor.

Before conditionally accepting Bertholf, the Coast Guard's agency acquisition executive, Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, will consider the recommendations of INSURV, Bertholf prospective Commanding Officer Capt. Patrick Stadt, and a Coast Guard executive board consisting of senior members representing the Coast Guard's acquisition directorate, operations directorate (program sponsor), and independent technical authorities, including the chief engineer and chief information officer. Conditional acceptance has since occurred by the agency acquisition executive.

Once accepted, the cutter will be turned over to the Coast Guard permanent crew and enter "In Commission, Special" status prior to formal commissioning into service scheduled for August. "In Commission Special" status indicates that the cutter is not doing regular patrols but is instead training the crew and testing equipment prior to beginning normal operations. Formal acceptance of Bertholf will be a major milestone in a lengthy testing and evaluation period that will follow delivery over the next 22-24 months to ensure the ship meets all technical requirements and the crew is fully trained and certified before it becomes an operational cutter within the Coast Guard's fleet.

The 418-foot Bertholf is the lead ship in the new Legend-class of cutters designed to be the flagship of the U.S. Coast Guard's more modern fleet. Capable of executing the most challenging maritime safety and security missions around the globe, Bertholf is the first of eight national security cutters planned to be built under the Coast Guard's Deepwater modernization program.

Bertholf was christened on Veteran's Day in 2006 and is named after Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, the first commandant of the modern-day Coast Guard.

June 27, 2008 U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit would like to remind all Great Lakes mariners to practice safe boating this week, 4th of July weekend and throughout the boating season.

Great Lakes mariners are reminded to: Have a sober operator – Don’t boat under the influence. Alcohol affects judgment, vision, balance and coordination. The marine environment - motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray accelerates a drinker's impairment; and decreases coordination, judgment and reaction time.

File a “float plan” with a family member or friend who is not boating with you and stick to the plan. The world's only lifesaving device on paper can assist the Coast Guard with a search if you are in distress.

Wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket or personal floatation device at all times. The law requires you to have them on board, but the Coast Guard recommends you wear them at all times. The worst time to look for a life jacket is when you are already in distress.

Have a marine-band radio. If you are in distress the Coast Guard can be reached on marine-band channel 16, the distress channel. Use of a cell phone could provide rescuers with a false location of your vessel.

Boaters should be vigilant and keep an eye out for their fellow mariners and anything that looks unusual on the water. "If you see something...say something." Suspicious activity can be reported to the America’s Waterways Watch at 877-24WATCH, or your local Coast Guard station.

Get a vessel safety check or take a boating safety course. Both are conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and/or the U.S. Power Squadron, and will prepare your vessel for the boating season and educate the boat operator, respectively.

The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to work with federal, state and local agencies, as well as Canadian officials, to provide safety and security to those who live, work and play on the Great Lakes. The public is asked to take a few steps to make this a safe boating season.

Coast Guard Sector Detroit directly oversees all Coast Guard missions on Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie from Alpena, Michigan to Vermillion, Ohio.