The City of Key West and the U.S. Coast Guard cordially invite the community to the ceremony designating Key West as a Coast Guard City. The ceremony will be held on August 4, 2022, at the Truman Waterfront Park, the inner mole near the USCG Cutter Ingham Museum. The ceremony commences at 10 AM and coincides with the Coast Guard's 237th anniversary.
The recognition as a Coast Guard City is a rare and great honor. It is bestowed to communities for their outstanding support of the U.S. Coast Guard.
USCG Commandant Admiral Linda L. Fagan will preside over the event. Also on the dais will be USCG District 7 Commander Rear Admiral Brendan C. McPherson, Commander of the USCG Sector Key West Captain Jason Ingram, Key West Mayor Teri Johnston, and Key West City Manager Patti McLauchlin.
"This recognition humbles us," said City Manager Patti McLauchlin. "Our community has a long history of supporting the military. The Coast Guard plays an important role here. But more than that, its members are part of the fabric of Key West. Being named a Coast Guard City is truly an honor."
This designation makes Key West just the 22nd city in the nation, recognized as a Coast Guard City.
The Coast Guard in Key West was established in 1915. After nearly a century of service, Sector Key West was stood up in 2004. It is a unified command consisting of six fast response cutters, three small boat stations, an Aids to Navigation Team, and a number of staff departments. The Sector Commander performs the duties of search and rescue, mission coordination, Captain of the Port, and much more. Sector Key West has a unique area of responsibility: 55,000 square miles bordering the territorial seas of Cuba and the Bahamas.