Heroes Day a great success
By
A CROWD GATHERS for Heroes Day at Chicamacomico
A HELICOPTER RESCUE was the high spot of Heroes Day.
SALUTING THE FLAG at Heroes Day.
Chicamacomico’s triple celebration of their sixth annual “American Heroes Day,” the 1911 Life-Saving Station Centennial, and Nation Coast Guard Day was a spectacular success! It was a day of records. In spite of record-high temperatures and matching muggy humidity, a record-high crowd of more than 700 turned out for this all day, all-outdoor event.
It was also a record for a single day fund-raising amount, which is one of the major objectives of the event. That is because Chicamacomico receives no federal or state funding and it is supported almost entirely by visitors.
“There are so many people to thank,” says site manager James Charlet. We needed every group and every individual. There is no order of importance. We thank the visiting public for coming out in less than ideal circumstances; we thank the participants for bringing and showing “their stuff.” We thank the demonstrators who put on incredible shows, each one alone worth the price of admission. We thank the Island Breeze (and writer Jenny Scarborough) and other local media for promoting this event.”
The event started out with a stirring rendition of our National Anthem performed by the award-winning Sea Notes barbershop quartet from Kitty Hawk while the colors were presented dramatically by the United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard from Arlington, Va. A letter of congratulations from North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue was read aloud. The Commander of Sector North Carolina, Capt. Anthony Popeil, gave remarks in the place of the USCG Commandant, Admiral Papp. The normal parking lot was filled with fire trucks, police cars and trucks, water rescue boats and jet skis, an ambulance, a Cape Hatteras Electric bucket truck that was giving exciting lifts in the bucket and much, much more. In the back were some period items to help set the tone for the 1911 Life-Saving Station Centennial. Those included antique sewing machines, hit-n-miss gasoline engines, a 25 foot antique shad boat and lots of period songs from several sources.
The scheduled events included the telling of the dramaticMirlorescue, a Beach Apparatus Drill (“Breeches Buoy reenactment”) performed by US Coast Guard MLB; Station Hatteras Inlet, a jet ski launch water rescue demo performed by the Chicamacomico Banks Water Rescue Unit, and the finale, the Search and Rescue Demo performed with the 47 foot Motor Lifeboat from Station Oregon Inlet and the HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City.
Sponsors were: Cracker Barrel and Coastal Impressions at the Gold Medal level; Cape Hatteras Electric Coop, Sun Realty, Surf or Sound Realty, and Ace Hardware of Avon at the Keeper Level; and Wings (Avon) and Ramada Inn as Crew. Some of that sponsorship money was used to obtain special order centennial edition items. Some of these one-of-a-kind coffee mugs, tee shirts and art prints are still available, but not many.
Chicamacomico wishes to thank all the volunteers who helped out on that very busy day and special guests who attended.There was a particularly large Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary presence which was fitting for National Coast Guard Day.
Charlet finished by adding, “Although I was totally exhausted by the end, it was a great day! There were lots of compliments, smiles and positive feedback from all directions. Our visitors really enjoyed the day and got the most entertainment for the dollar anywhere on the Outer Banks.”
For stills and videos, visit Chicamacomico’s website and Facebook page, Sun Realty’s Facebook page, and also YouTube.
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site is located in the village of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island at MP 39.5 and is one of the many sites on the Historic Albemarle Tour as well as the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, part of America’s Scenic Byways Program. For more information about this particularly interesting site and its exciting activities and offerings, visit www.chicamacomico.net, email clss@embarqmail.com, or call 252-987-1552.