Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 4-8 is wired; maydays can be heard

Flotilla 4-8 Vice Commander Ann Roller, Station Rochester Chief William Engle, Flotilla 4-8 Commander Betty Benoit at the communication tower dedication. Group members say the link cures a dead area for radio communications. Submitted photo.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 4-8 is wired; maydays can be heard

Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 4-8 erected a radio tower at their Hamlin base, providing the last link to connecting communications to the dead areas of radio reception off Devil's Nose, Hamlin. This tower is a very important link between Coast Guard Stations Buffalo and Rochester and for area boaters who are in trouble that may need to contact the Coast Guard, according to Vice Flotilla Commander Ann Roller.

After fifteen years of obtaining the parts and having competent volunteers in Flotilla 4-8 complete the various tasks, 4-8 members were proud to be able to finalize the project on June 17. A dedication ceremony for the radio tower took place August 28 at Coast Guard Auxiliary Base 4-8 in Hamlin.

Presiding at the Dedication Service, Commander Betty Benoit and Vice Commander Roller welcomed Chief William Engle from Station Rochester and Pastor Walter Steenson from Hilton Baptist Church who each spoke about the importance of this vital connection of communication along the south shore of Lake Ontario. If Flotilla 4-8 had not volunteered and persevered these many years in obtaining materials and erecting this tower at no cost to the Coast Guard, this vital connection still would not be in place today because of the Coast Guard's very limited budget.

Flotilla 4-8 hopes that the years of research, team work and labor will benefit the Coast Guard and the general public in making the waters off the Hamlin Beach/Oak Orchard area of Lake Ontario safer and assist the Department of Homeland Security in accomplishing their work keeping the United States safer.