The Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Coast Guard Appreciation dinner on Friday evening. The Chamber’s executive director Sarah Phillips says its a way to applaud Coast Guard personnel for their service to Kodiak.
“Kodiak wouldn’t be the same without our Coast Guard personnel,” Phillips said. “We always have that knowledge and understanding that they’re there for us, that they can rescue us when we need it. We’ve always got that backup. And sometimes we take it for granted. And so we wanted to take the opportunity to thank our Coast Guard men and women who are serving here in Kodiak, especially those who maybe don’t get thanked a lot.”
Tomorrow’s dinner is already sold out. In attendance will be 100 Coast Guard service members and another 100 community members. The service members will represent each of the units based on the island — even some of the ships that aren’t currently in port.
The units include Air Station Kodiak, the Alex Haley, the Douglas Munroe, the Spar, the Marine Safety Detachment, the Communications Station, North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center, Aids to Navigation, and the Electronic Support Detachment.
Various individuals and community businesses have donated door prizes and food for the occasion.
“We’ve got Monks Rock making homemade rolls. We’ve got the high school culinary arts team preparing Cod Olympia and rice pilaf, we have the Chart Room preparing food, we have Den Catering and Henry’s Great Alaskan restaurant, just representation from all over the place. MeLanie’s Crazy Cakes has whipped up an amazing cake again this year. So we’re excited to show that off too.”
The dinner is Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Kodiak Convention Center.