The Outer Banks Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary recently welcomed a new vessel into its fleet.  The Salty Dog, owned by John Lawing and maintained out of Heritage Point on Roanoke Island, becomes the Flotilla’s seventh authorized vessel.

Captain John Lawing guides Salty Dog into the Dock of the Bay Marina for her maiden Coast Guard Auxiliary voyage. Marcia Horst photo

Salty Dog will join her sister vessels supporting a wide range of activities including aircraft and helicopter search and rescue training, training with the Oregon Inlet Coast Guard boat station and conducting local boating safety patrols during the busy boating season.

The Outer Banks Auxiliary Flotilla is among the busiest in the country in providing vital support ensuring active duty Coast Guard readiness.  The group’s 50+ volunteer members are also very visible in the community, spreading the message of boating safety through boater certification training, vessel inspections, children’s programs and liaison with other first responder organizations.

If you’re passionate about boating and have a desire to enhance community enjoyment of the area’s unparalleled water resources, the group welcomes you to learn more by contacting their human resources officer Jay Dunlap at jay.obx@gmail.com. The group also welcomes you to attend one of their monthly meetings, held the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Pitts Center in Southern Shores.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, visit www.cgaux.org.

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