Cutter Eagle crew helps to 'Keep Bermuda Beautiful'

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area
Story by Senior Chief Petty Officer Sarah Foster

Date: 07.01.2013
Posted: 07.08.2013 10:14
News ID: 109842
Cutter Eagle crew helps to 'Keep Bermuda Beautiful'

HAMILTON, Bermuda – During a port call in Bermuda from June 29 to July 2, 2013, Coast Guard Cutter Eagle crew and cadets cleaned up and repaired neighborhood facilities in Hamilton working in conjunction with Keep Bermuda Beautiful and Habitat for Humanity.

More than 50 crew members did neighborhood cleanups, repaired and refurbished a building to be used as a multifunctional facility in Hamilton.

“Service projects in the communities we visit are a vital part of the mission,” said Lt. Kristopher R. Ensley, Cutter Eagle’s operations officer. “While our primary mission is to train future Coast Guard leaders, being an ambassador of goodwill to the places we visit helps to enhance the leadership experience.”

The Eagle is currently on its cadet summer training deployment since departing New London, Conn., May 11. After leaving Bermuda Tuesday, July 2, she turned north headed to her next port call of St. Pierre and Miquelon, France. St. Pierre is a small island off the coast of Newfoundland, and is a self-governing territory of France.

The 295-ft. Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.

Eagle has served as a classroom at sea to future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience. Currently, there are 105 cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy embarked along with seven cadets from the U.S. Naval Academy. The summer deployment spans 11-weeks, stopping at nine port calls in five countries, with four different groups of cadets training onboard.

Keep Bermuda Beautiful’s core mission is to engage individuals to take greater responsibility in reducing waste and eliminating litter through action and education.

Habitat for Humanity Bermuda was formed in June 2000. Due to very high real estate and construction costs, work is limited to major rehabilitation projects. All construction is masonry. Roofs are constructed using limestone and are designed to catch rainwater.