RIVIERA BEACH, fl-On Saturday, December 15 th at approximately 3:00 pm, a single, long-horn blast of Coast Guard boat's horn announced to all she was ready to depart the dock and head out to sea. Aboard, not counting a crew of four Coasties, were representatives of the many services of our country. Their mission, to right an oversight, and to pay homage to those who perished at sea while serving their country; veterans with neither marker nor plot upon which to lay a wreath in remembrance. Our local Civil Air Patrol, Florida Wing Group 6, noted this oversight and were determined to do something about it. They contacted Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet who embraced the whole idea; here, for the first time a wreath will be cast on the sea, to honor those forgotten heroes.

Represented in this group are the Merchant Mariners, so many of which were killed by German U-Boats and their torpedoes. We must never forget our Navy, Coast Guard, Air forces and all others who shared the same or similar fate in the many wars waged over the years. Lastly, we must not forget the thousands of soldiers that were lost in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans when their ships went down; all of whom were lost and buried in the deep with neither a marker nor a plot of ground to honor them.

Three men of the group aboard the Coast Guard boat were chosen to represent all veterans lost at sea and they released the wreaths to the tide; this while the Mariners Special 23 rd Psalm was recited. Due to dangerous sea conditions, the ceremony was held directly at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet. However, when the wreaths were cast on the water, they were immediately grabbed by the tide and rapidly pulled out to sea. Everyone stood at attention and saluted as TAPS was sounded. The buglers notes, loud and clear, carried across the water to an accompanying Coast Guard Auxiliary boat bearing media members, and observers. All eyes were glued to the outgoing wreaths until they were out of site, lost in the froth of the white caps on the waves.