The National Coast Guard Museum Association launched a new social media initiative designed to collect and share personal stories of heroism and honor dedicated to the Coast Guard.
The campaign gets underway in advance of the release of the Disney film “The Finest Hours,” which will open nationwide on Jan. 29.
The #mycoastguardstory initiative is gathering stories from current Coast Guard men and women, veterans, reservists, auxiliary members and civilians who are sharing personal experiences of how the Coast Guard has impacted their lives.
The tie-in to “The Finest Hours” tells the true story of Coast Guard rescue attempts of crews from two crippled tankers off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass., in February 1952.
“This effort will help us tell the many stories of the Coast Guard through the eyes of those who served,” museum association president and CEO Richard Grahn said in a statement.
The museum, the first and only national museum to be dedicated solely to the Coast Guard, will be built on the waterfront in downtown New London, Conn., home of Station New London and the Coast Guard Academy.
“We are encouraging everyone to go follow us on Facebook and Instagram @uscgmuseum to share their story of what the Coast Guard means to them,” said Wes Pulver, executive director of the museum and former captain of the Coast Guard Barque Eagle.
“As excitement builds for the release of ‘The Finest Hours,’ we are gathering stories from young and old, from near and far, to preserve the rich history of our Coast Guard. By using the #mycoastguardstory, we will start building an extensive social media library open to everyone.”
