Photo Release

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WAILUKU, Hawaii – Coast Guard Auxiliarist Lawrence Ankrum, center, was awarded the Medal of Operational Merit by Senior Chief Petty Officer Jay Rudometkin, officer-in-charge of Coast Guard Station Maui, left, and Cmdr. Steven Wheeler, Sector Honolulu chief of response, right, during a ceremony at Station Maui, Sept. 30, 2011.

Ankrum, a long-time Maui resident, was recognized for his years of service in the 14th Coast Guard District and his commitment to boating safety. His contributions include more than 2,500 hours as a communications watchstander at Station Maui, deployment to the Gulf of Mexico for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for serving as a Coast Guard risk management and communications trainer.

Attendees at the award ceremony included crewmembers from Station Maui and members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Maui.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a uniformed civilian volunteer force created by an act of Congress in 1939 to augment the Coast Guard military service.  Their ranks are made up of community members who share a goal of increasing boating safety awareness and assisting with homeland security.

For more information about Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Maui, visit www.MauiBoatClass.com.

Click the following link for another photo of the ceremony: http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1420965

For more information contact Senior Chief Jay Rudometkin , officer in charge of Station Maui, at 808-986-0023.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Denise Ankrum