Walter Baricelli enjoying service
while learning service’s mission
By:Alec Moore
For Walter Baricelli, the opportunity to serve in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is an opportunity to combine his greatest passions.
Through the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the 40-year-old Corle Place resident is able to share his love of boating, aviation and his devotion and desire to help others in need.
"I love airplanes, I love boats and I’ve always helped people in need so what better place to enjoy and share my two passions than the Coast Guard Auxiliary," said Mr. Baricelli, a licensed pilot and engineer by trade.
Mr. Baricelli attributes his lifelong love of the sea and air to the days he spent growing up along the shores of Long Island. "That’s where the love of water and boating came about," he said.
Mr. Baricelli joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Bridgewater-based Flotilla roughly one year ago.
"I wanted to do something to help people, and to help our country, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary fit the bill for me," he added.
As a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Mr. Baricelli is essentially on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergency situations affecting any of the harbors and ports in the metropolitan area.
In addition, the Coast Guard Auxiliary performs a number of regularly scheduled routine duties, the most notable being providing instruction in maritime safety and boating instruction to boat owners.
"We assist with search and rescue missions, we help make sure the harbors are secure and we do a lot of teaching to boat owners," said Mr. Baricelli.
In addition, as a licensed pilot Mr. Baricelli is also permitted to fly with Coast Guard aviation units as an observer.
Beyond performing the duties of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Mr. Baricelli said the one thing he relishes most about being part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the sense of teamwork and unity that he shares with his fellow Flotilla members.
"It’s just a great feeling to be part of this group," he said. "There’s a lot of camaraderie, but when there’s an emergency, or when were performing our duties, everything is done by the book. The Coast Guard Auxiliary emphasizes training and safety above all and that’s what I focus on more than anything else.
"We’ve got to know what were doing out there or else we wont be of any use to the people who need our help."
For more information on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or to find out about local Flotillas, go online to www.cgaux.org.

