NEW YORK-Members of Coast Guard Sector New York marched in the 10th Annual Greenpoint Memorial Day Parade alongside the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in Brooklyn, N.Y. May 30, 2010.

NEW YORK-Members of Coast Guard Sector New York’s honor guard prepare for the beginning of the 10th annual Greenpoint Memorial Day Parade, Brooklyn, N.Y. May 30, 2010.

NEW YORK-Members of Coast Guard Sector New York’s honor guard march in the 10th annual Greenpoint Memorial Day Parade, Brooklyn, N.Y. May 30, 2010.

NEW YORK-Seaman Joshua Pisani, left, a member of Coast Guard Sector New York, marches in the 10th annual Greenpoint Memorial Day Parade, Brooklyn, N.Y. May 30, 2010.

NEW YORK-A crowd cheers on members of Coast Guard Sector New York during the 10th Annual Greenpoint Memorial Day Parade, Brooklyn, N.Y. May 30, 2010.

NEW YORK-Coast Guard members stationed at Coast Guard Sector New York, volunteered their time with students at The Eagle Academy for Young Men in a volunteer program during Fleet Week New York, in Brooklyn, May 28, 2010.

NEW YORK-Lt. j.g. DeCarol Davis, a member of Coast Guard Sector New York, speaks with children from The Eagle Academy for Young Men during a volunteer program during Fleet Week New York, in Brooklyn, May 28, 2010.

NEW YORK-Lt. j.g. Frank Strom works on an art project with children from The Eagle Academy for Young Men during a volunteer program during Fleet Week New York, in Brooklyn, May 28, 2010.

NEW YORK-Lt. j.g. DeCarol Davis, a member of Coast Guard Sector New York, draws with children from The Eagle Academy for Young Men during a volunteer program during Fleet Week New York, in Brooklyn, May 28, 2010

NEW YORK-Volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Marines color a picture with children from The Eagle Academy for Young Men during a volunteer program during Fleet Week New York, in Brooklyn, May 28, 2010.

NEW YORK-Lt. j.g. Mallorie Schell, a member of Coast Guard Sector New York, speaks with children from The Eagle Academy for Young Men during a volunteer program during Fleet Week New York, in Brooklyn, May 28, 2010.

NEW YORK-U.S. Coast Guard members from Coast Guard Sector New York and the Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker, a 175-foot buoy tender home ported in Bayonne, N.J., served lunch alongside U.S. Marines to senior citizens during a Fleet Week activity at the Carter Burden Luncheon Club, Manhattan, N.Y., May 27, 2010.

Hosted nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York is the City's celebration of the sea services. This annual event also provides an opportunity for the citizens of New York City and the surrounding area to meet Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness first hand the latest capabilities of today's Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

NEW YORK-U.S. Coast Guard members from Coast Guard Sector New York and the Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker, a 175-foot buoy tender home ported in Bayonne, N.J., serve lunch alongside U.S. Marines to senior citizens at the Carter Burden Luncheon Club, Manhattan, N.Y., May 27, 2010.

NEW YORK-Lt. j.g. Maria Rosario, a member of Coast Guard Sector New York, talks to senior citizens about her job while passing out meals at the Carter Burden Luncheon Club, Manhattan, N.Y., May 27, 2010.

NEW YORK-Petty Officer 3rd Class Macon Haddock, a Boatswains Mate aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker, serves food to senior citizens at the Carter Burden Luncheon Club, Manhattan, N.Y., May 27, 2010.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph DeVito and Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Lora prepare to lay a wreath in the water in honor of William Vogt, a Coast Guard World War II veteran, at the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy, N.J., today.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Gaytan delivers taps during a wreath laying ceremony in honor of William Vogt, a Coast Guard World War II veteran, at the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy, N.J., today.

Bob Vogt, son of William Vogt, a Coast Guard World War II veteran, speaks to friends and family before a Coast Guard honor guard team from Sector New York prepare to lay a wreath in the water at the Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy, N.J., today.

U.S. Coast Guard images by Petty Officer 2nd Class Annie R. B. Elis.

NEW YORK-Memorial services and military honors were held for William Vogt, a Coast Guard World War II veteran, in East Hanover, N.J., today at 11:30 a.m.

Vogt, a man that many consider a hero, died in the company of his family in Florham Park, N.J., Saturday.

The S.S. El Estero caught fire with 1,300 tons of explosives aboard in April of 1943. Next to the El Estero was another ship with an equal amount of explosives as well as train cars carrying explosives and fuel containment facilities nearby in Bayonne, the explosives were all headed to support the war effort in the European Theater.

Vogt along with other Coast Guard members answered a call for volunteers and acted with speed and courage, voluntarily boarding the ship while it was ablaze to keep the explosives, munitions, bunker buster bombs, depth charges and fuel barrels from exploding.

It was estimated that if the explosives detonated, the result would be akin to the power of a small atomic bomb detonating in New York Harbor.  The explosion would have caused incalculable damage to Lower Manhattan, Bayonne, N.J., Governors Island, Staten Island and Brooklyn.

After hours of fighting the fire, the ship was towed by tugs to Robbins Reef where the vessel filled with water and sank to rest on the bottom.

The Coast Guard commendation medal was presented to Vogt for his selfless actions at a hospice care center in Florham Park, N.J., April 8, 2010.

Vogt and his fellow Coast Guardsmen were also awarded a gold medal and a parade from the City of Bayonne, N.J., on Sept. 25, 1944.

For more information on the incredible story of the El Estero, follow this link: http://www.coastguardchannel.com/spclFeatures/cghistory/events/ElEstero.shtml

MADISON, Conn.--Along with the Coast Guard, 13 other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participated in Law Day at Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., March 26, 2010. Keeping with the theme of the event, technology crimes and law enforcement, each agency showed presentations and static displays.

Eighth grade students from Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., peek into a Coast Guard response boat March 26, 2010.

Coast Guard Lt. Ryan Popiel, from Air Station Atlantic City, describes the capabilities of a Coast Guard HH65 helicopter to a group of eighth grade students from Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., during a presentation for Law Day on the school's campus March 26, 2010.

Eighth grade students from Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., take turns sitting in a Coast Guard rescue basket during a helicopter presentation for Law Day on the school's campus March 26, 2010.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie O'Con, from Coast Guard Station New Haven, Conn., describes how to put on a protective dry suit to an Eighth grade student from Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., during the Law Day presentation on the school's campus March 26, 2010.

Eighth grade students from Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., take turns trying on a Coast Guard protective helmet and goggles during the Law Day presentation on the school's campus March 26, 2010.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Pete Sciambra, from Coast Guard Station New Haven, Conn., describes the missions and jobs of Coast Guard men and women to a group of 8th grade students at Polson Middle School in Madison, Conn., March 26, 2010.

NEW YORK-Members of Coast Guard Sector New York and the Coast Guard Auxiliary march in formation during New York City’s Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17, 2010.

NEW YORK-Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Church, a member of Coast Guard Sector New York, marches in formation during the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17, 2010

Coast Guard Capt. Robert O’Brien, Commander, Coast Guard Sector New York, salutes members of Sector New York as they pass by during the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, March 17, 2010.

Video is available at this link: http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=775904

NEW YORK - The Coast Guard's Barque Eagle, homeported in New London, Conn., finds safe refuge in Gravesend Bay, N.Y., during a winter storm that struck the East Coast Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.

The Eagle was bound for Baltimore for a dry dock period when the command decided it was best to find refuge rather than become beset by heavy weather.

(U.S. Coast Guard photos by Lt. Chris Nolan, Petty Officer 3rd Class Barbara L. Patton and Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Rives. Click the photos for a high-resolution copy.)