Community Corner
Photos: Coast Guard's Eagle Arrives In Alexandria
Coast Guard's Eagle ship has welcomed federal officials and visitors aboard in Alexandria. There's one more chance to tour it.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—The U.S. Coast Guard's magnificent Eagle ship has arrived in Alexandria, and the public has one more opportunity to tour it before the ship sets sail.
The Eagle arrived on Labor Day passing under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Free tours were open to the public during the week at Point Lumley Park, and the last tours are set for Thursday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are not needed. There will be no tours the other times Eagle is in town, but it can still be seen from the park.
The ship will depart Alexandria on Friday, Sept. 8, at approximately 4:15 a.m., and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will open up as Eagle makes its way to Baltimore.
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Like the city it's visiting, the Coast Guard's Eagle ship has a bit of history behind it. Built by Germans in 1936, the United States received Eagle as a war reparation, and the Coast Guard re-commissioned it. It has been based out of New London, Conn. ever since and has served Coast Guard Academy cadets and incoming officers.
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Today, Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the U.S. flag and an active commissioned sailing vessel in the military.
During its stay in Alexandria, Eagle was host to a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary pf the Battle of Guadalcanal, a key Allies victory in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Officials that attended included Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Check out photos from the ship's visit to Alexandria in the gallery above.
Images courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard by Petty Officer 1st Class Bill Colclough. Pictured in the first three images are visitors touring the ship. Pictured in the second-to-last image is Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke. Pictured in the last image is Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft.
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