Coast Guard Foundation announces date for annual tribute

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all coast guard members and their families, announced today that its 12th Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Our Nation’s Capital will take place on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at the National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. The event will celebrate 100 years of Coast Guard aviation. Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant of the Coast Guard will deliver keynote remarks. Sergei Sikorsky, oldest son of aviation pioneer Dr. Igor Sikorsky will also address attendees. CNN’s Kyra Phillips, and Fox News’s John Roberts will emcee the event.

“Our Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Our Nation’s Capital is an inspirational event,” said Anne Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation. “This year, our event will include tributes to Coast Guard aviation, with a special nod to those who paved the way for those who serve today.”

Sikorsky served as an aviation machinist’s mate in the Coast Guard during the Second World War. He later joined the family company, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, eventually retiring in 1992. Sikorsky remains active as an aviation consultant, a member of several aviation organizations and a highly regarded authority on helicopter history. After 70 years in the helicopter business he has accumulated a long list of honors and awards, which include Sweden’s Royal Aeronautical Society’s Thulin Bronze Medal, an Honorary Doctorate in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and designation as a Technical Fellow in the American Helicopter Society.

Admiral Paul Zukunft serves as the 25th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. In his role, he leads the largest component of the Department of Homeland Security composed of 88,000 personnel including active duty, reserve, civilian and volunteer auxiliarists.

Kyra Phillips is a news anchor, and investigative and documentary correspondent for CNN. John Roberts is the senior national correspondent at Fox News. Both Phillips and Roberts have received numerous awards for their work, including several Emmy awards.

For more information on this year’s tribute to the United States Coast Guard, please visit the Coast Guard’s event page. To learn more about the Coast Guard Foundation or to help support its work, please visit www.coastguardfoundation.org.