AROUND THE ACADEMY

Eagle celebrates 75th Anniversary

USCGC Eagle is escorted into Portland Harbor after 12 days at sea having sailed from Philadelphia, PA in August 2003 by CAPT Eric Jones, ’87 elcome to our celebration of a milestone in the history Wof Eagle, which has offered generations of Coast Commanding , Guard Academy cadets, and more recently officer candidates, an unparalleled leadership experience at sea. USCGC Eagle January 6, 2011 began what will be a year-long observation of the 75th Anniversary of Eagle. Built at the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in , Germany in 1936, and commissioned as , it is one of three sail- training ships operated by the pre-World War II . At the close of the war, the ship was taken as a war reparation by the U.S., re-commissioned as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and sailed to New London, Conncticut, which has been its homeport ever since. This promises to be an exciting year for Eagle and its crew with opportunities for past shipmates to visit the ship, such as Mr. Eddie Didion, who as a child was “adopted” for a time by the crew in war-torn France. An official crew reunion is scheduled for August 26-28. Details to follow in subsequent Bulletins and eNewsletters. The ship departs for Summer Training Cruise on May 7, which will include visits to Waterford, Ireland; London, ; Reykjavik, Iceland; Halifax, Nova Scotia and Hamburg, Germany. Partnering with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Eagle is scheduled to host a second naturalization ceremony in early August while in . The first ceremony was held last fall in New London.

42 THE BULLETIN AROUND THE ACADEMY

EAGLE Summer Schedule

May 7 Leaves New London, CT

May 27 Arrives Waterford, Ireland

May 30 Departs Waterford, Ireland

June 3 Arrives Hamburg, Germany

June 6 Departs Hamburg, Germany Kicking off Eagle’s 75th June 10 Arrives London, England Anniversary June 13 Departs London, England By Jennifer McDermott, June 24 Arrives Reykjavik, Iceland Day Reporter published 1/7/11 in The Day

June 27 Departs Reykjavik, Iceland he U.S. Coast Guard Academy hosted Ta reception Thursday (Jan.6) to kick July 15 Arrives Halifax, Nova Scotia off a year-long celebration for the Coast Guard barque Eagle’s 75th anniversary and unveil the anniversary logo. July 18 Departs Halifax, Nova Scotia Capt. Eric C. Jones, commanding officer of Eagle, welcomed the distinguished group that included July 22 Arrives , MA former commanding officers and many others with ties to the barque. They met in the Henriques Room, which July 25 Departs Boston, MA was decorated with Eagle artwork and memorabilia. July 29 Arrives New Bedford, MA Jones said the year promises to be an exciting one for Eagle and the crew, as they sail to Europe for the annual August 1 Departs New Bedford, MA training cruise. A port call is planned in Hamburg, Germany, where Eagle was built in 1936. August 5 Arrives New York, NY Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., who also commanded August 8 Departs New York, NY Eagle, recognized the audience members and told Jones that he has the best job in the Coast Guard. Together they pulled the blue cloth from a poster showing the logo.

February 2011 43