News in English

HELMEPA at the US Coast Guard Academy's 133rd Commencement Exercises

It was a great event that the Director General of HELMEPA, Dimitris Mitsatsos, and the Association's Executive Coordinator, Christiana Prekezes, attended at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, in New London, Connecticut, on May 21 2014.

Invited by Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz, USCG, Superintendent of the Academy, the representatives of HELMEPA had the opportunity to admire the 133rd Commencement Exercises during which the cadets and the 220 new officers of the Coast Guard demonstrated their high level of training and discipline.

The event started with the Assumption of Command Ceremony by the Honorable J. C. Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security, who addressed the new officers in a very fatherly manner. The humbleness with which the outgoing Commandant, Admiral R. J. Papp, Jr. addressed the newcomers and the Cadets, must have impressed all present as he spoke truly as a mentor who has dedicated his life to the Coast Guard's motto to be always prepared to serve.

Both the Commandant and the Superintendent had only good words for the proactive work of the volunteer members of HELMEPA towards raising environmental awareness and safeguarding safety at sea when they talked with HELMEPA's staff.