USCG Sector Northern Great Lakes held three Change of Command and retirement ceremonies on Friday, June 14 involving the 140-foot multi-mission icebreaker USCG Cutter Katmai Bay, the 100-foot inland buoy tender CGC Buckthorn and Station Sault Ste. Marie.
The Change of Command ceremony for the Buckthorn from Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Ritter to Christopher Connolly took place under blue skies, perfect for a fly-over by USCG Air Station Traverse City helicopter just before the event started at 2 p.m.
Ritter was in charge of the Buckthorn for four years while serving in the Coast Guard for a total of 22 years.
The Buckthorn was commissioned in 1964 as a buoy tender and an ice breaker with a crew of 16. Sault Ste. Marie has been the Buckthorn’s home since 1971.
Ritter gave a lengthy, energetic, sometimes emotional farewell speech.
"If you want to understand my tears, and feel my heart is bleeding on my sleeve right now. It has been my happy place for the last four years. I have literally woken up every daggum day excited, motivated and happy to come to work," Ritter said.
Ritter has plans to help his wife with her Yooper Pasty business and get more active in their two children's activities in the Soo area.
During the other Change of Command ceremonies, Boatswain's Mate (BMC) Dustin McClelland was relieved by BMC Felix Ronquille with Capt. Jim Bendle, Commanding Officer, Sector Northern Great Lakes presiding. Ronquille will be in charge of Station Sault Ste. Marie.
BMC Felix Ronquille is reporting from USCG Gulf Region Fisheries Training Center (GRFTC) in New Orleans, LA. BMC Ronquille’s wife, Health Services (Technician) Chief (HSC), Krisite Ronquille, also reported to Sector Northern Great Lakes and will be serving as the Sectors Chief Health Technician Specialist! They both hail originally from Louisiana’s Bayou.
BMC Dustin McClelland retires after 24 years of service to the USCG! BMC McClelland hails from Angola, Indiana and is retiring with his wife and three kids in Croswell, Michigan.
