During 2004, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 17-Alaska, volunteered nearly 43,000 hours, taught boating safety classes to 1,400 students, assisted 290 people and saved or assisted more than $2.6 million in property during search and rescue missions, according to information provided by the Auxiliary. In addition, Alaska auxiliarists conducted 830 vessel safety checks, 103 5-Star Inspections and 108 commercial fishing vessel safety checks, and reached an estimated 137,000 people through boat shows and other public events.

When the Coast Guard Auxiliary became part of the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003, it became the largest volunteer force assigned to the department.

At the Auxiliary's annual conference in Anchorage in February, numerous awards were presented for these efforts. Homer residents recognized were:

Sandy Mazen, who received the Captain William S. Griswold Award for performing the greatest number of support hours to the Coast Guard in 2004, with 71 hours of underway operational support and 156 hours of operational support; and the Superior Performance of Duty Fourth Award;

Dennis Thaute had the most — 41 — hours of public education and member training; and

George Eischens was awarded for 30 years of service to the Auxiliary in Alaska. See related story, this page.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.