After 71 Years, the Coast Guard Auxiliary Base Stands Strong in Mamaroneck

After nearly three quarters of a century in it’s location in Harbor Island Park, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Base, Flotilla 75, officially opened for the season last weekend.

The ceremony was attended by NY Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, NY State Assemblyman George Latimer, and Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum.

The all-volunteer Auxiliary unit in Mamaroneck—with approximately 40 current members—is one of the oldest in the nation and is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

The Coast Guard Reserve—as the Auxiliary units were originally called—was officially established June 23, 1939 for civilian volunteers to promote safety in navigable waters, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary website. Two years later, however, on Feb. 19, the Auxiliary and Reserve Act of 1941 was passed to distinguish between the Coast Guard Reserve as a branch of the active military and to designate the non-paid civilians who were previously called Reserves, as the Auxiliary.

Flotilla 75 operates as a base year-round, and performs functions such as environmental controls, safety regattas, seasonal search and rescue detachment and other Recreational Boater Safety functions.  Additionally, the base offers education sessions for the public as well as training sessions for Auxiliary members.

The Auxiliary unit also supports the safety and security of waterways as directed by the United States Coast Guard.

As Robert Heinemann, vice commander of Flotilla 75, noted, “When we’re on duty, we’re active Coast Guard.”

And, with current U.S. security and intelligence agencies ramping up their surveillance for potential terror threats after the killing of Osama bin Laden according to The National Terror Alert website, how will this effect the Auxiliary?

“We stand ready to serve as we did in 9/11,” said Heinemann proudly.