Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/386902
Retirements Chief Sean Lynch honored for Three Decades of Service On Saturday, December 7, 2013, Chief Sean Lynch, of Freeport, NY, was honored by the Coast Guard for his nearly 32 years of dedicated service. Several dozen people, including Chief Lynch's family, friends, shipmates, and band-mates were on hand at the military ceremony held at the USCG Atlantic Strike Team (AST) unit hangar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. Chief Lynch was presented with the Coast Guard Achievement Medal by Cmdr. Eric J. Doucette, AST Commanding Officer. He was cited for "exceptional leadership initiative and technical expertise as chief of the reserve engineering division." In 1982, CPO Lynch and his best friend, Eric Mathison, joined the USCG on the "buddy system," shortly after they graduated from Baldwin High School. Lynch was on active duty for four and a half years, serving at Station FT Totten in Queens and Station Montauk on Long Island's east end, before joining the USCG Reserve when he enrolled as a student at SUNY Maritime in Bronx, NY. As a reservist, Lynch served at Station New York, Station Jones Beach, Station Kings Point, and for the past five years he has been a member of the Atlantic Strike Team (AST), a highly trained unit recognized worldwide as an expert authority in the preparation for and response to the effects resulting from oil discharges, hazardous substance releases, weapons of mass destruction events, and other emergencies. As a member of the Strike Team, Lynch volunteered for deployment to Mississippi for the Deepwater Horizon (BP Oil Spill) and NYC in the aftermath of the terror attacks of 9/11. Most recently, as he was rebuilding his own home destroyed by Super Storm Sandy, Lynch volunteered for active duty to help protect the people and property in and around New York City who, like him, were devastated by the massive storm. The ceremony, emceed by Cmdr. Kirsten Trego, included the presentation of a shadow box of mementos from Chief Lynch's career, an American flag that was flown over the US Capitol in Chief Lynch's honor and other personal gifts from his unit. Additionally, US Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, New York State Senator Charles Fuschillo, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Nassau Legislator Dave Denenberg, and Mayor Robert Kennedy, of Freeport Village all issued citations and proclamations honoring Chief Lynch's service to his country. Chief Lynch is also a member of the USCG Pipe Band, as well as a bagpiper in the Amityville Highland Pipe Band (AHPB), Long Island's oldest pipe and drum band, based out of American Legion Post 1066 in Massapequa. Many of Lynch's AHPB band- mates attended the event and played "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful" during the program. Professional singer, Chief Kristine Rommel, a Coast Guard reservist, sang the National Anthem. Chief Lynch is optimistic his three decades of experience, knowledge and expertise from the USCG will translate to his post-retirement career, including his job with the New York State military forces unit. — Story and photo by Amy Di Leo ET2 Capehart Bids Farewell at PSU 308 On July 19, 2014, ET2 Brian Capehart retired after 22 years of dedicated service, 16 of which were as a Coast Guard reservist. Capehart's celebration was held at the unit he spent most of his career, Port Security Unit 308. The presiding officer of the celebration was the unit's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Ronzelle Green. ET2 Capehart's wife Lydia, other family members, shipmates, family and friends were in attendance as Cmdr. Green highlighted Petty Officer Capehart's career; a career which included two deployments to Kuwait. During one of the deployments, he was instrumental in saving a Kuwait Naval boat from sinking. At the conclusion of the ceremony ET2 Capehart was read his retirement orders, awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and given a giant replica PSU pin signed by the crew. eT2 Capehart is shown here with Cmdr. green and Lt. j.g. Chris Phelps. Photo by oS3 Toni austin Chief Lynch (kneeling in center) with his atlantic Strike Team Unit shipmates and members of the amityville Highland Pipe Band. 48 RESERVIST � Issue 3 • 2014