Visiting Ships for the 240th Fourth of July Celebration

Starting in the early 1900’s, the U.S. Navy sends a ship to spend a week in Bristol during our Celebration. The Visiting Ship for the 240th Fourth of July Celebration is the USCGC MAURICE JESTER.

USCGC MAURICE JESTER will be moored to the Bristol Town Pier adjacent to the Maritime Center south of Rockwell Park.

usCGC MAURICE JESTER

TOUR DATES:
JULY 3-4

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

USCGC Maurice Jester

Introduction

USCGC Maurice Jester is a 154ft Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC), designed for multiple missions, including drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The cutters namesake is derived from the USCG hero LCDR Maurice Jester. During WWII, LCDR Maurice Jester commanded the first U.S. Ship to capture the crew of a German U-Boat after it’s sinking. For his heroics in the sinking, and rescue of the German Sailors aboard U-352, LT Maurice Jester was awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to Lieutenant Commander for his leadership.

Construction and Commissioning

USCGC Maurice Jester was built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, LA and was launched in March of 2023. The ship was officially commissioned on June 2, 2023, in Newport, RI.

Operational History

USCGC Maurice Jester is homeported in Boston, MA serving alongside 5 other FRC’s in the USCG’s First District. USCGC Maurice Jester has sailed the waters of New England for two years conducting multiple SAR missions over 100 NM off the coast, and conducted over 100 living marine resource boardings: contributing to the overall protection of New England’s vast fisheries and sensitive ecological zones

Tour Information: Please read if you intend to tour ship.

Cutter tours will be held on July 3rd and July 4th from 0900 to 1400 (2 PM). The vessel will be located at the Bristol Town Pier which is beyond the Bristol Maritime Center (Granite castle like building in Rockwell Park at the foot of Church St.).

Navy and USCG regulations require that all purses and packages be searched. Visitors are strongly encouraged to lock these items in your vehicles since the security search will delay the tour process. There are limited or no handicap access points. Visitors are reminded to wear comfortable, protective footwear (no open toes, heels, or platform shoes). Parking in the area will be limited to on-street parking.

USCGC MAURICE JESTER will depart Bristol on July 5, 2025

Hattie Brown Award Recipients for the 238th Fourth of July Celebration

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LT Hemenway Coburn

Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Coburn is from Londonderry, NH and graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2018. After commissioning, she reported to the USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) in Portsmouth, Virginia where she trained as a Deck Watch Officer and assumed the role of First Lieutenant. While there, she completed numerous counter-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

In the summer of 2020, LT Coburn reported to USCGC Winslow Griesser (WPC 1116) in San Juan, Puerto Rico to serve as the Executive Officer. While onboard, she participated in patrols in support of Operations UNIFIED RESOLVE and SOUTHEAST WATCH. The cutter also executed a highly successful International Patrol in support of SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds 2021.

From 2022-2024, LT Coburn served as the Aide to the Superintendent at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In this role, she advised the Superintendent on strategic engagements & initiatives, assisted with planning and executing more than 100 events, and supported the commissioning of over 1,000 officers into the Coast Guard.

LT Coburn is currently serving as the Commanding Officer of CGC Maurice Jester, conducting Search and Rescue and Living Marine Resources Boardings in the District 1 AOR in support of Operation ATLANTIC VENTURE.

Lieutenant Coburn’s professional credentials and personal awards include a Master Near Coastal 100-ton MerchantMariner License, the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and several other unit awards.

LTJG Alaina Sill

Executive Officer

Lieutenant Junior Grade Sill is from San Diego, CA and graduated from Norwich University, located in Northfield, VT in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. After receiving her commission in 2022, she reported to USCGC Tampa (WMEC 902) in Portsmouth, Virginia where she trained as a Deck Watch Officer and served as the First Lieutenant. While there, she completed numerous maritime border security patrols in the Floridia Straits, Windward Pass, and a counter narcotics patrol in the Caribbean Sea.

In the Spring of 2024, LTJG Sill reported to USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain to serve as the Operations Officer. While onboard, she served under U.S. Navy Central Command, Fifth Fleet to provide forward deployed assets for narcotics interdiction, theater security and cooperation, and maritime domain awareness operations in the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

LTJG Sill is currently serving as the Executive Officer of USCGC Maurice Jester, conducting Search and Rescue and Living Marine Resources Boardings in the District 1 Area of Responsibility in support of Operation ATLANTIC VENTURE.

LTJG Sill’s professional awards include the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement medal, the Navy Expeditionary medal, the Coast Guard Special Operations medal, and several other unit awards.