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Lake Oscawana Home to Expanding Role of Coast Guard Auxiliary
by Edward Paul Greiff
Steve Horvitz, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Commander of Division 6 in the Northeastern United States, has been a Lake Oscawana resident for twenty-one years.
Steve Horvitz of Lake Oscawana is the Division 6 Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Commander; his boss is the Commandant of the Coast Guard. In years past during peacetime the Auxiliary was part of the Department of Transportation. During World War II they became part of the Navy. Now, in response to changing needs and situations, the Auxiliary, through the Coast Guard, is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
While the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is boat patrols, "We are a multiplying force for the Coast Guard," says Horvitz. "The Coast Guard has 37,000 members and the Auxiliary has 32,000 volunteer members. We are their eyes where they can't see, we are allowed to do anything the Coast Guard does except patrol in military or police actions."
But the work of the group goes much further than just patrols.
Public education about boating safety, the "rules of the road" and seamanship are part and parcel of the Auxiliary's activities. The Coast Guard Auxiliary goes out of their way to accommodate the public by conducting classes in schools as well as private homes and just about anywhere enough interested parties can be brought together for eight hours.
Another local Lake Oscawana resident, and also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is Pete Bazzo, Flotilla Staff Officer Public Education, who conducts Boating Safety Courses whenever he can gather enough people together. His next course will be taught at Mahopac High School on March 16th from 7 to 9 pm.
Most people work during the week and find it difficult to attend a weekday class says Officer Bazzo. He is accommodating Lake Oscawana resident Paul Simon (who has gathered together twelve people) by conducting a one-day boating safety course for eight hours on the first Sunday in April at Simon's home.
A third major role of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is "Vessel Examination." These are courtesy examinations and performed voluntarily by the boat owner. If they pass, an examination decal is placed on the side of the boat and is recognized by other law enforcement agencies. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is restricted to rivers, lakes and open waters that are federal or state waterways, but may work with other agencies such as DEP, DEC, and the Sheriff's Department, by invitation.
"It's very time consuming but it's something I fell in love with. I put in the time, I put in the work. I enjoy it. It keeps me going it does something for me," says Horvitz.
"I remember when I was new and I was in my full dress uniform and we had to walk through a restaurant in Tarrytown to get to the dock when a young child said, 'The Coast Guard is here.' I stopped and went back to the child and got down to his eye level and asked him 'Do you always wear your life jacket on the boat?' Yes, he said, and I know he will always remember this moment and wear his life jacket and look to us the rest of his life. It was a great moment."
Also at the top of the list of activities for the Auxiliary is their "Fellowship" efforts. "Twice a month we do a VIP visitation to a local VA hospital, probably the most rewarding thing I've done in my life. We go into the rooms and spend time with the Veterans there. You talk a little bit, you touch their hand, they love to be touched. The most important thing is to listen because they just want someone to hear their story. The first visitation we ever did was in the Bronx to a serviceman who had been in Vietnam. He died five days after our visit. His sister-in-law e-mailed us thanking us and saying 'I have to let you know the day before he passed his eyes would light up talking about the two guys from the Coast Guard that came to visit him.' I don't know who benefited more from the visit, the serviceman or myself," said Steve Horvitz.
"We've seen Vietnam, Korea, and WWII Vets. We are waiting for orders to go to Washington to visit the kids coming back from Iraq. I am very close to that war. My son is a Marine and a lot of Putnam Valley kids are currently being deployed to Iraq. These are friends of my son and they are close to me," continued Mr. Horvitz.
For more information about becoming a volunteer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary you can call Steve Horvitz at 845 742-6491.
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