Are You One in a Million?

The Coast Guard has been a hot topic in the Letters section of Latitude 38 in recent months, from praise for the dramatic rescue of the J World crew during last fall’s Baja Ha-Ha to criticism for not doing more to salvage the grounded JoJo. What every letter has truly brought home is that the Coast Guard’s primary mission is to save lives.

To honor the brave men and women who risk their own lives to save those of mariners, the Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit that supports Coast Guard members and their families, has launched the ‘Are You One in a Million?’ campaign. "The Coast Guard has rescued more than one million people since it was established in 1790," a spokesperson for the Foundation noted. "Individuals who have been rescued or assisted by the United States Coast Guard can go to www.one-in-a-million-rescued.org to share their stories."

Two of the stories posted to the site include those of Barry Demak, one of the crewmembers aboard J World, and Lisa Wright, who was rescued after being swept off a friend’s sailboat by a rogue wave outside the Gate. We encourage any readers who have been rescued by the Coasties to submit their own story as a way to thank those who helped you.