ROCKLAND — Area Coast Guard forces and guests gathered at the Elks Lodge Friday, April 26, for the Seventh Annual Coast Guard Appreciation Dinner, honoring services rendered to Sector Northern New England by Station Rockland and vessels Thunder Bay, Tackle, and Abbie Burgess.

SNNE Deputy Commander Brian Gilda, who will be promoted to SNNE commander on May 7, said the event is likely the largest such gathering in Maine.

"This does not happen other places, and I don't take that for granted," Gilda said.

Gilda said while SNNE's territory comprises Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and a bit of New York, "it's areas like this, in Rockland, where we really have a...large footprint, and [we] do a lot of great things out of here."

Rockland Main Street, Inc., Executive Director Lorain Francis honored the Coast Guard's participation in community events, such as the construction of the annual lobster trap Christmas Tree, and offering tours of their facilities during the Lobster Festival.

"We love having the Coast Guard in town," Francis said. "We appreciate the work that you do in neighborhoods to make a better place to live here in Rockland. You are what makes Rockland a great community, and I'm always proud to tell others that we are a Coast Guard City."

According to the Coast Guard, Rockland is one of only 14 Coast Guard Cities designated by the U.S. Congress.

The evening was emceed by Paul Dilger, a designated master cutterman and retired chief warrant officer of the Abbie Burgess, who served in the Coast Guard for more than 20 years. Gilda lauded Dilger for his "outstanding leadership" and continued dedication to the Coast Guard City Committee.

Commanding officers from Station Rockland, Abbie Burgess, Tackle and Thunder Bay spoke about their activities throughout the last year, which included missions to the Great Lakes, aiding Hurricane Sandy aftermath in New York City, and ice-breaking in Rockport Harbor.

Petty Officer First Class Joseph Posey, who was promoted to the rank of chief petty officer during the appreciation dinner, was awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for superior performance of duty while serving as first lieutenant aboard the Abbie Burgess from July 2010 to April 2013. Posey was cited for his management and prioritization skills, which included spearheading a complete topside service overhaul.

Posey was also commended for his "exceptional teaching skills and unrelenting focus on safety... [and] his efforts enabled the cutter to maintain the highest degree of mission readiness in spite of continuous crew turnover."

Coast Guard spouses were also recognized for their dedication, as were City Committee members Laurie Smith and Dot Black, who both received sector coins honoring their efforts to welcome Coast Guard families to Rockland.

"What's important to us is that families are happy, and that things are going well at home," Gilda said. "If that's good, then you can throw anything tough at us and we can work through it."

Elks Club workers Janet Harjula, of Thomaston, Rosie Myers, of Spruce Head, and Marcia McRea, of Owls Head, all of whom helped run the appreciation dinner for multiple years, said they participate in the event because they like "serving the community" and "seeing the new faces" of Rockland's Coast Guard personnel.

To contact Bane Okholm, email news@penbaypilot.com.