| WEDDING VOWS
From time to time in the media we hear stories of couples that after a certain number of wedding anniversaries for them, renew their wedding vows. These vows are a celebration for the couples and their friends and families of years of Life together as a team. The renewal of these vows mark a remembrance of things promised, and are used as a guideline for the future in the union. When we joined the Auxiliary, we took a New Member Pledge. This is an oath charging us with certain responsibilities and obligations. Below is the Prologue and Pledge for New Members taken directly from the Auxiliary Manual. Every time I administer this Pledge to one of our new members, it reminds me of the promise I made not only to myself, but to the Coast Guard, The Coast Guard Auxiliary, and our Country to serve to the best of my abilities. Also I am reminded of the responsibilities that being a member entail.
Prologue and Pledge for New Members
The pledge you are about the take is your commitment to support the United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary, an organization dedicated to the promotion of boating
safety and providing assistance to the United States Coast Guard in the
fulfillment of civil functions. You accept this membership as a volunteer, and as a
member you are charged with certain responsibilities and obligations. These include
your willingness to support the Coast Guard Auxiliary and its purposes, to
faithfully execute your duties, and to participate in its authorized programs to the
best of your ability and to the extent that time and circumstances permit.
As an Auxiliarist, you enjoy certain honors and privileges, among them,
wearing the Auxiliary uniform and flying the Auxiliary Ensign. Wear the uniform
neatly and correctly and fly the Blue Ensign proudly. Remember that your conduct
reflects directly upon the image of both the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary.
The satisfaction you derive from your Auxiliary membership will be in
proportion to your level of participation in the organization’s activities. The success
the Coast Guard Auxiliary will depend upon the extent of your participation
and upon the quality of the Auxiliary leaders that you, the member, select.
If you feel that you can be an active and productive member of the United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary, please raise your right hand and repeat after me:
“I, (your name), solemnly and sincerely pledge myself to support the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and its purposes, to faithfully execute my
duties, and to abide by the governing policies established by the Commandant of
the United States Coast Guard.”
From time to time, I like to read over this pledge and I ask myself each time, “Am I fulfilling the pledge I took as a member? If I am not, what do I need to do to ensure that I am fulfilling the promise I made when I took this oath”? While we are on this subject, I would like to follow up with another oath that we take when we are installed as Elected or Appointed Officers in the Auxiliary. On the next page is a copy of the Prologue and Pledge for Elected and Appointed Officers.
PROLOGUE AND PLEDGE FOR
ELECTED AND APPOINTED LEADERS
You have offered your talents and services in the interest of a better Coast
Guard Auxiliary. The pledge you are about to take admits you to an office of
greater responsibilities and high honor. Along with this honor, you must be
prepared to accept certain obligations as well as the administrative and supervisory
responsibilities of your office. Your task is to develop the Auxiliary
programs to the maximum efficiency that conditions permit. You are expected
to promote closer liaison between the Auxiliary and local Coast
Guard units, constantly reminding Auxiliarists that their actions reflect not
only on the Auxiliary, but also on the Coast Guard. As a leader, you are
charged with maintaining high standards in all Auxiliary programs and activities,
never compromising honesty and integrity.
With the full realization of the demands of your office in terms of time,
travel, and dedication, if you are willing to accept this honor, please raise
your right hand and repeat after me:
I, (state your name), do solemnly and sincerely pledge myself to support the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and its purposes, to promote its
authorized activities, to properly discharge the duties of my office, and to
abide by the governing policies established by the Commandant of the United
States Coast Guard.
At times I go back to this document, to do a self-check to see if I am living up to my fullest potential for the oath that I took both as an Elected and as an Appointed Officer of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. When I read over both Oaths that I have taken, one word stands out in both documents, “Support”. Am I supporting the organization to the best of my ability? Am I doing service to the Auxiliary and my local teams by the actions I do or by the words I commit in my daily work with the Auxiliary? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then I need to re-evaluate where I am, do a check to see where I need to be, and get a plan on how I am going to get there.
We have a fantastic organization both World-wide and locally. If we aren’t living up to our oaths, then we are doing a great injustice not only to our organization, but to the Coast Guard, and our Country. Not only that, but we are doing a great injustice to our fellow members. Almost anyone can be a member of the Auxiliary, but it takes a special mind-set to be an Auxiliarist.
Randy Ventress
Flotilla Commander
Flotilla 11-05
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