The Wandering Disciple

During a period of devastating hurricanes over the Florida Keys, the Sand Key lighthouse suffered catastrophic damage and was almost lost to the seas. But thanks to the hard work of keeper Joshua Appleby, the lighthouse was rebuilt and fortified and continued to stand as a beacon to ships passing through the Keys. But Appleby lost his battle to hurricanes in 1846 when the Great Havana Hurricane swept him, his daughter and his grandson out to sea. To pay tribute to Appleby, the Coast Guard commissioned the Cutter Joshua Appleby in his honor in 1998. The USCGC Joshua Appleby is a 175 foot Keeper-class cutter that is one of the most technological advanced ships in the Coast Guard fleet. Based out of St Petersburg, this ship is responsible to maintaining over 400 aids to navigation from on the west coast of Florida from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys. (Photo: August 30, 2021)

Its all hands on deck when it comes to keeping a military workhorse ready for duty. A Coast Guard airman from Air Station Miami performs maintenance on an HC-144 Ocean Sentry at the Florida International Air Show. The entire crew of these aircraft chip in when needed to keep the bird airworthy. (Photo: November 3, 2019)

A little show of military force at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport during a VIP visit in 2012. With Vice President Biden arriving in town in the evening, the afternoon skies over the airport were busy with military action. A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III carrying the motorcade sat quietly on the ramp while a US Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk and a C-130 Hercules practiced touch and go landings on the runway just before a arrival of a C-40 Clipper operated by the US Navy and ultimately Air Force Two a little later in the day. (Photo: October 30, 2012)

An HH-60 Jayhawk from the US Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater patrols the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Venice Beach. Officially formed in 1915 after the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the US Life-Saving Service, the USCG is responsible for patrolling the United States coastal waters. (Photo: June 12, 2012)

The US Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island is docked in St Thomas.  The Pea Island is one of 37 island-class patrol boats in service with the Coast Guard.  (Photo: October 24, 2006)

A Coast Guard HC-144 is performing training maneuvers at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. This HC-144 is based out of the US Coast Guard’s Miami Air Base. The HC-144 is a medium range aircraft used by the Coast Guard in search and rescue operations. (Photo: December 20, 2011)