Coast Guard Capt. Matthew Thompson, the commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, records a message during the installation of the Seaman Apprentice William Flores statue in the Circle of Heroes veterans memorial, off the coast of Clearwater, Florida, May 25, 2021. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joshua Appleby (WLM-556) installed the statue in the recreational dive site that honors service members. Flores died saving shipmates after the USCGC Blackthorn and a tanker collided in Tampa Bay on the night of Jan. 28, 1980; 22 of his shipmates were also killed in the disaster. (Audio recorded by Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Villa Rodriguez)
TRANSCRIPT:
“Forty-one years ago, the Coast Guard experienced a tragedy with a collision and sinking of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn, tragedy that resulted in 23 Coast Guard members losing their lives. One of those members, Seaman Flores, who spent his last minutes saving others from the crew, was memorialized today as the Seaman William Flores statue was placed at the Circle of Heroes dive site about 10 miles off Clearwater. Our hope in the Coast Guard is that others will see William Flores and learn his story and think about all the great Coast Guard rescues that members have made, including those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I'm Captain Matt Thompson, sector commander, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.”
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