BY JIM GIERLAK, FINANCE OFFICER, USCG AUXILIARY FLOTILLA 66

Flotilla 66 of Mathews of the Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrated its milestone 70th birthday on Sept. 6. Only two other Coast Guard Auxiliary flotillas in the entire Chesapeake Bay area can claim to be 70 years old.

Currently, the flotilla has 22 members and several potential new members. It is the only Coast Guard Auxiliary organization on the Middle Peninsula serving boaters from the Rappahannock River to the York River and is centered in the Gwynn’s Island area.

The formation of CG Auxiliary Flotilla 66 began with discussions by members of the Mathews Yacht Club in early 1951. Yacht club members wanted to promote greater boating safety to their members and to visiting boaters. On April 10, 1951, MYC Fleet Captain Howard Doughty formally proposed to club members the formation of a USCG Auxiliary flotilla. The proposal was unanimously accepted.

Ten days later, on April 20, 1951, Commander Clint Speight, Director of...