The National Coast Guard Museum Association announced commitments of over $4 million in pledges from private and corporate sponsors during a special event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The pledges for construction of America’s first National Coast Guard Museum were announced as President George H. W. Bush and other noted supporters from across the country hosted an advanced screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ production of “The Finest Hours.”
The advanced screening of the film, which chronicles a dramatic Coast Guard rescue off the coast of Cape Cod in 1952, was not a fundraising event. Instead, the invitation-only screening was intended to raise awareness about the museum. The awareness was certainly raised, marking a tremendous success.
“This wonderful event, which was focused around Disney’s exciting portrayal of one of the greatest rescues in Coast Guard history, truly emphasizes the need and generous support for our museum,” said Richard J. Grahn, President and Executive Director of the National Coast Guard Museum Association. “It’s also a testimony to the power of this and other great stories of human courage and sacrifice by uniformed members of the United States Coast Guard, which will be featured and displayed with the honor they deserve in the National Coast Guard Museum.”
