Stuart, Fl.-Saturday March 26, 2022: The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 59 held a community appreciation and open house Saturday in Stuart to celebrate their 80 years of service to the Treasure Coast.
Flotilla 59 was founded in Stuart as part of the Seventh District which includes all of South Carolina, parts of Florida and Georgia and Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
The initial building was donated by the City of Stuart on property on Flagler Avenue at the base of the Roosevelt Bridge. In 1986, the current Flotilla building was erected on land donated by Martin County in Sandsprit Park where Saturday’s open house was held to thank all the Martin County supporters who have supported the local Flotilla and helped conduct vessel safety checks and signed up for boating safety and skill courses.
Today there are there are 53 members of the Flotilla whose tradition of dedicated service to the community resulted in Flotilla 59 being named the National Flotilla of the Year in 2020.
That tradition started during World War II when members of Flotilla 59 combed the beaches on horseback and set a continuous watch in the Gilberts Bar House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island. Members also patrolled local waters in their own vessels for the very real threat of German U-Boats off the coast and in the local rivers. Auxiliarist watch standers were assigned 24 hours a day on bridges in the area.
The Flotilla members raised the funds for the construction of the Flotilla building. It is in use almost daily by the members for monthly meetings and classes in the Florida boater safety courses, GPS Navigation, and Coastal Navigation course (among others) are all taught there by our dedicated Auxiliarists.
