MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR CG HELO 6017 CREW

R 062232Z JUL 11ALCOAST 324/11COMDTNOTE 3710SUBJ: A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR CG HELO 6017 CREW1. TOMORROW MARKS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CG HELO 6017TRAGEDY AND THE DAY WE LOST THREE SHIPMATES. CG HELO 6017 CRASHED INTHE WATERS OFF LA PUSH, WA ON 07 JULY 2010 WHILE TRANSITING FROMASTORIA, OR ENROUTE TO SITKA, AK. LIEUTENANT SEAN KRUGER, PETTYOFFICER ADAM HOKE AND PETTY OFFICER BRETT BANKS LOST THEIR LIVESSERVING OUR COUNTRY. WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES AND THEFAMILIES THEY LEFT BEHIND.2. OPERATIONS PERMITTING, COAST GUARD UNITS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBSERVEA MOMENT OF SILENCE AT 0905 PST ON 07 JULY 2011 IN MEMORY OF THE CG6017 CREW AND ALL OUR SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATESACRIFICE SERVING OUR NATION WITH HONOR.3. CGAS SITKA IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE ALASKA NATIVETRIBE OF SITKA WILL ERECT A TRADITIONAL SOUTHEAST ALASKA TOTEM POLETO HONOR OUR LOST HEROES ON 04 AUGUST 2011.4. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COAST GUARD PERFORM VITAL WORK AND ARECALLED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC, THE ENVIRONMENT AND U.S. NATIONALINTERESTS IN OUR PORTS AND WATERWAYS, ALONG THE COAST, ONINTERNATIONAL WATERS AND IN ANY MARITIME REGION AS REQUIRED TOSUPPORT OUR MISSIONS. IT IS OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE THAT WE REMAINVIGILANT IN OUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEEP SAFETY AS A TOPPRIORITY.5. THE COAT GUARD SUFFERED SEVEN CLASS A AVIATION MISHAPS SINCESEPTEMBER 2008. HOWERVER, WE HAVE NOW REACHED A MILESTONE. THIS PASTYEAR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS HAS BEEN FREE OF MAJOR MISHAPS, A GREATACHIEVEMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DEDICATION AND TIRELESS EFFORTS OFALL HANDS, FROM THE MOST JUNIOR AIRMAN TO COMMANDING OFFICERS. ALLINVOLVED HAVE HONORED OUR PROFESSION BY FOCUSING ON THE BASICS:AVIATE, NAVIGATE AND COMMUNICATE. OUR RESOLVE IN COMBATTINGCOMPLACENCY, MANAGING THE RATE OF CHANGE AND MITIGATING RISK REMAINSAN IMPERATIVE AND MUST CONTINUE AS WE PERFORM OUR SERVICE TO THENATION.6. VADM BRIAN M. SALERNO, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS, SENDS.7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.