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          UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TIME CAPSULE
          CEREMONY
          by
          Herbert G. Gardiner, MPS.
          
          On Saturday, September 2, 1995, the United States Coast
          Guard held a Time Capsule and Memorial Ceremony
          marking the 50th Anniversary of V-J Day, the End of World
          War II in the Pacific. The ceremony was held at the Coast
          Guard Base at Sand Island in Honolulu. Captain Dennis M.
          Egan, Commanding Officer, of the Base and a Freemason,
          invited the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
          the State of Hawaii to conduct the time capsule encasement
          (cornerstone laying) ceremony and attend the unveiling and
          dedication of the Coast Guard Cutter Taney Memorial. 
           
          THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
          The story of the United States Coast Guard through its
          predecessors begins 205 years ago. It was created by act of
          Congress on January 28, 1915, as the result of a merger of
          the United States Revenue Cutter Service with the former
          United States Life Saving Service. Under the act, the Coast
          Guard was declared to "constitute a part of the military
          forces of the United States." On July 1, 1939, the Lighthouse
          Service of the Department of Commerce became part of the
          Coast Guard. Thus, through its predecessors, the Revenue
          Cutter Service, formerly the United States Revenue Marine,
          established August 4, 1790, and the United States
          Lighthouse Service created August 7, 1789, the Coast
          Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal
          government.
          On June 11, 1941, the act of 1915, was amended, stipulating
          that "the Coast Guard shall be a military service and
          constitute a branch of the land and naval forces of the United
          States at all times and shall operate under the Treasury
          Department in times of peace and operate as part of the
          Navy, subject to the orders of the Secretary of the Navy, in
          time of war or when the President shall so direct." On
          February 28, 1942, President Roosevelt transferred for the
          duration of World War II, certain safety-at-sea functions of
          the former Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation of
          the Commerce Department to the Commandant of the Coast
          Guard. On July 16, 1946, this temporary transfer of functions
          became permanent. At the present time the Coast Guard is
          under the U.S. Department of Transportation, along with the
          Federal Aviation Administration,
          The story of the United States Coast Guard in Hawaii began
          in 1846, when the Revenue Cutter "Lawrence" arrived in
          Honolulu to commemorate the birthday of Kamehameha. In
          the 1890's Honolulu had become a regular stopping off place
          for the cutters en-route to Alaska where they patrolled for
          seal poachers, rum runners, and gun smugglers. In addition
          to seizing smugglers and poachers, Revenue Cutter Service
          ships also served as couriers for the United States
          government and the Provisional government of Hawaii. In
          1904, six years after the U.S. officially annexed the Islands
          as the Territory of Hawaii, the federal government took over
          the Hawaiian Aids-to-navigation service and designated
          Hawaii part of the 12th Lighthouse Service District, with
          Headquarters in San Francisco. The new organization then
          began a program to build and maintain lighthouses
          throughout Hawaii.
          When the Lighthouse Service merged with the Coast Guard
          in 1939, the 14th Coast Guard District was created with the
          District Commander's office being located in Honolulu. The
          district began with 250 men, but expanded rapidly during
          World War II. 
          Presently, the 14th Coast Guard District covers about 18
          million square miles of land and sea, making it the largest
          command in the Coast Guard. It is responsible for an area
          that stretches from a point midway between Hawaii and the
          mainland, west across the International Date Line to the
          Asian continent.
          In view of its outstanding record of rescue missions
          accomplished over the years, one would hardly expect that
          occasionally the Coast Guard would be required to justify its
          search and rescue operations. In June 1937, the "Itasca"
          was on a routine cruise delivering food, water and other
          supplies to Interior Department employees stationed at
          Howland, Baker, and Jarvis islands in the Central Pacific.
          The cutter remained at Howland for a week longer than
          usual to provide a radio beacon (as a navigation aid) and to
          transmit weather information for the famous aviatrix Amelia
          Earhart and her navigator Fredrick J. Noonan, who were
          making a flight around the world. The leg of the flight from
          Lae, New Guinea, to tiny Howland Island, a 2,550 mile hop,
          was over a course that had never been flown before. The
          "Itasca" made radio contact with the aircraft at 1:15 a.m.
          PST on July 2nd, and reported Earhart and Noonan were
          half way to their mid-Pacific goal. At 12:45 a.m. The
          U.S.C.G. at Honolulu reported the "Itasca" had subsequently
          made radio contact but was unable to distinguish the
          contents of the message due to weak signals from the
          aircraft. When the plane failed to arrive at Howland Island,
          Commander Warner K. Thompson got the "Itasca" underway
          and began a search for the overdue aircraft. He was later
          joined by a number of naval vessels, including the aircraft
          carrier "Lexington." No trace of the aircraft could be found,
          and on July 17th the cutter returned to Howland to pickup
          personnel for transportation to Honolulu.
          Even before the search had been called-off, some members
          of Congress were questioning the use of government ships
          in such an operation. Admiral Russell R. Waesche, the
          Coast Guard Commandant, reported that the only unusual
          expense incurred by the "Itasca" in conducting the search
          was for the fuel she burned, which he estimated was $2,000.
          There were also complaints that the search interfered with
          the Coast Guard's normal duties. Admiral Waesche
          responded that "one of the principal duties of the Service
          was to answer all calls for assistance at sea. That the search
          operation from July 2nd to July 17th was strictly in line with
          the prescribed duties of the Coast Guard."  In 1939, the
          world famous adventurer, writer and lecturer Richard
          Halliburton and fourteen companions who were crossing the
          Pacific Ocean in the specially built Chinese junk the "Sea
          Dragon" were reported overdue. The press accounts had the
          Taney on her way from Midway Island to begin a search,
          which Admiral Waesche denied. At the time the cutter was
          undergoing turbine repairs at Pearl Harbor. No Coast Guard
          vessels were called in to conduct a search, because it would
          take almost a month before a ship could reach the junk's last
          reported position, off the coast of Japan. Merchant ships
          were requested to keep a sharp lookout for the "Sea
          Dragon." Like Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred
          Noonan, Halliburton and his companions were never found.
          SOME HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT SAND ISLAND
          Sand Island in the 18th century was basically a shallow reef
          that protected Honolulu Harbor. As Honolulu became a
          regular port of call for many sailing ships, a huge number of
          ballast stones were deposited on the reef when the ships
          took on cargo. Because the Hawaiians believed the stones
          possessed a form of spiritual power, it was considered
          inappropriate to relocate stones from one island to another.
          Consequently very few stones were ever deposited on
          shore, the bulk of the ballast stones were placed on the reef,
          which was about 1000 yards offshore. Over the years the
          discarded ballast stones collected sand deposits and
          gradually formed two spits. Subsequent dredging operations
          resulted in depositing additional material on the spits and by
          the 1830s two islands had been created in Honolulu harbor;
          Sand Island and Mauliola (Isle of Healing).
          By 1869, maritime activity in Honolulu Harbor had increased
          tremendously. Because the harbor entrance was too
          treacherous to enter after dark, the capabilities of Honolulu
          port were limited. Kamehameha V remedied this by
          purchasing the sand spit and having a small lighthouse built
          on the site for $360. The light was paired with the one on the
          Honolulu Wharf Custom House. Kamehameha V was the
          first Native Hawaiian to become a Freemason. As Prince Lot
          Kamehameha he was raised to the Sublime Degree of
          Master Mason on Monday evening, February 27, 1854, in
          Hawaiian Lodge No. 21, F.& A.M. 
          Greatly concerned about the spread of disease especially
          among his Hawaiian subjects, Kamehameha V had a
          Quarantine Center erected on Mauliola, which became
          known as the Quarantine Island.
          In 1903, the U.S. Lighthouse Service took over the
          lighthouse, tore it down and replaced it with a more modern
          43 foot high lighthouse. As a result of Honolulu Harbor being
          deepened to 35 feet and widened to 400 feet, the dredge
          spoil was deposited on both sites. Sand Island as it was now
          called, had grown to 24 acres, and Quarantine Island had
          grown to 32 acres. In 1926, the lighthouse facility atop the
          Aloha Tower replaced the Honolulu Harbor light. Following
          the deposition of the dredge spoils taken from the carving of
          the Kapalama Channel in 1927, Sand Island and Quarantine
          Island became one, since known as Sand Island.
          All that is left of the Quarantine station are its boathouse
          used by Coast Guard Station Honolulu, and two statues of
          maidens created by an Italian prisoner of war and dedicated
          to the patients with Hansen's Disease at the Quarantine
          Station. During World War II over 5000 Italian and other
          prisoners of war were quartered at Sand Island. The
          Personnel office of the U.S. Army Port and Service
          Command operated out of Sand Island for several years
          during the war and after it ended. Several hundred
          Japanese-Americans and aliens were also initially interned
          there after the December 7, 1941 surprise attack by the First
          Carrier Strike Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
          A complete history of the U.S.C.G. and its many
          accomplishments during and since World War II is beyond
          the scope of this brief article. However, The Coast Guard
          and its predecessor services have served with honor and
          distinction in all the wars in which our Country has been
          engaged.
          THE MEMORIAL MONUMENT
          The large white anchor represents the honor of the Coast
          Guardsmen killed in World War II. When viewed at night, the
          black pedestal is not readily visible, leaving what appears to
          be a white "V" with a spear piercing its center. This suggests
          that only through sacrifice can we ensure victory.
          The black chain that fouls the white anchor represents our
          troubled nation in time of war. It reminds us that World War II
          was fought and decisively won, to break the chains of
          dictators who sought to enslave the world and deny our
          children their heritage of freedom.
          The anchor is positioned within a cast black circle, above
          ground level, with a ring of copper plates on its top surface.
          These are inscribed with the names of the Coast Guard
          sailors and ships lost in World War II. The broken ring
          represents our youth cut down in the prime of their lives. The
          foundation makes the circle whole and represents victory
          through devotion to duty even unto death. The red flowers
          that fill the circle, are symbolic of the blood shed.
          The bell represents respect for the sacrifices of Coast Guard
          sailors and hope for the future that inspires devotion to duty.
          It rests on a granite foundation stone within the circle,
          positioned south of the anchor. The Time Capsule is
          encased within the foundation stone. The bell, cast in Troy
          New York, in 1929, was acquired by the Japanese in the
          1930's and mounted aboard a Japanese merchant ship that
          was sunk by a U.S. submarine during World War II. It was
          given to Coast Guard Base Honolulu by the U.S. Navy. The
          following inscription appears on the Bell: "I toll for the Coast
          Guardsmen and ships manned by the Coast Guard that
          were lost in WW II operations against the enemy."
          Also within the circle are two plaques located on the north
          side of the anchor. Plaque "A" is inscribed as follows:  
          COAST GUARD WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL At peak
          strength, 175,000 regulars, 51,173 temporary reservists,
          8,371 women's reservists (SPARS), and 5,205 auxiliarists
          served the Coast Guard in WW II. They saw duty in all
          theaters of the war. Over 800 Coast Guardsmen lost their
          lives in operations against the enemy--their names are
          memorialized here. (This is followed by a brief explanation of
          the symbolism of the memorial.) Plaque "B" has the following
          inscription: During WW II, Coast Guardsmen served on 802
          Coast Guard ships and 7,960 boats including 4,524 CG
          auxiliary craft, 288 Army vessels and 351 Navy ships. (This
          is followed by the names of 28 vessels and the dates they
          were lost.)
          THE TIME CAPSULE CEREMONY
          The program conducted by the Grand Lodge of Hawaii
          consisted of a Masonic Cornerstone ceremony at the
          foundation stone which the bell is resting on, and the
          encasement of the Time Capsule within the foundation
          stone. The Capsule is scheduled to be opened at the 100th
          Anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific.
          The ceremony began at 12 Noon with the arrival of the
          Polulu (Long Spear) Carriers Bobby Enfield and Alex Luke,
          and the Kahili (Feather standard, symbolic of royalty)
          Bearers, Mel Kalahiki Sr. and Mel Kalahiki Jr. They were
          followed by the Heroes of '76 of the National Sojourners. Ms
          Rene Mancho, member of the Honolulu City Council and
          former Mayor Frank F. Fasi were among the many guests
          who attended the ceremony. The Council of Hawaiian
          Organizations was represented by its Vice president, Louis
          Agard. 
          M.W. James N. DeMoss, Past Grand Master of Nebraska,
          now a resident of Hawaii, and member of Hawaiian Lodge,
          served as Master of Ceremonies. He told the audience that
          no one can truly say when special ceremonies were first
          performed at the laying of cornerstones, (also referred to as
          foundation stones in certain instances) but we know for
          certain that it is an ancient custom. However, we do know
          that the earliest record of an official Masonic Cornerstone
          ceremony dates back to August 2, 1738, at the laying of the
          Foundation Stone of the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
          by the Earl of Cromarty, Grand Master of Scottish Masons.
          Master of Ceremonies DeMoss then introduced Most
          Worshipful Richard W.M. Dang, Grand Master of Masons in
          Hawaii, and a Past Master of Lodge le Progres de l'Oceanie,
          who presided over the Ceremony.
          Very Reverend David N.E. Kaohelaulii the Grand Chaplain,
          gave the opening prayer in Hawaiian, after which Most
          Worshipful W.M. Dang proceeded with the ceremony. V.W.
          Lyman Kung, Grand Treasurer and a Past Master of
          Hawaiian Lodge, assured the Grand Master that the
          appropriate memorabilia was safely contained in the Time
          Capsule. In response to M.W. Dang's request, V.W., J.
          Patrick Corrigan, Grand Secretary and also a Past Master of
          Hawaiian Lodge, read a list of the contents of the Time
          Capsule. Satisfied that all was in order the Grand Master
          directed V.W. Kung to deposit the Time Capsule in the cavity
          of the foundation stone, which he did.
          The Masonic Working Tools used in the Ceremony were
          provided by the Grand Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons of
          Japan. They were personally delivered to the Grand Lodge
          of Hawaii by M.W. Akira Yamaya, Grand Master of Masons
          in Japan, who participated in the ceremony. M.W. Fred
          Kashiwagi, Past Grand Master, of the Grand Lodge of
          Japan, who is a native of Hawaii and is now living back
          home in Honolulu, arranged for the use of the working tools.
          M.W. Brother Kashiwagi is a member of Hawaiian Lodge.
          The high point of the ceremony was the display of genuine
          healing between the United States and Japan on the 50th
          Anniversary of VJ-Day. This was demonstrated both
          operatively and symbolically in a manner expressed and
          understood only by Freemasons. Most Worshipful Richard
          W.M. Dang, Grand Master of Masons in Hawaii, Captain
          Dennis M. Egan a Freemason and Commanding Officer
          U.S.C.G. Sand Island, and Most Worshipful Akira Yamaya,
          Grand Master of Masons in Japan, each took turns in
          spreading the mortar that sealed the Time Capsule in the
          foundation stone. The sight of these three Freemasons
          working together as one, was heartwarming to witness. The
          trowel used by Captain Egan had been presented to him by
          the Grand Lodge of Connecticut in commemoration of the
          200th Anniversary of the end of the American War of
          Independence.
          Freemasonry brought these three men together in an
          atmosphere of brotherhood and understanding. They of
          diverse backgrounds, different ethnic origins, who hail from
          widely separated parts of the globe, and representative of
          two nations that from December 7, 1941 to September 2,
          1945 fought each other in a fierce and bloody war
          throughout the Pacific and South East Asia, demonstrated
          the true spirit of Freemasonry. They displayed the Craft at its
          very best, and confirmed the principle that Masonry unites
          men of every country, sect and opinion; and causes true
          friendship to exist among those who might otherwise have
          remained at a perpetual distance.
          It was exactly as we have been taught down through the
          ages, both operatively and speculatively . . . to make use of
          the trowel for the more noble and glorious purpose of
          spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection; that
          cement that unites us into one sacred band or society of
          friends and brothers, among whom no contention, should
          ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of
          who can best work and best agree.
          After the Grand Lodge Officers tested the foundation stone
          and reported to the Grand Master, he gave it three blows
          with his gavel and declared it "Well formed, true and trusty."
          When the offering of the Corn of Nourishment, the Oil of Joy,
          and the Wine of Refreshment were completed M.W. Dang
          called upon the Principal Architect for his address.
          Captain Dennis M. Egan who served as the Principal
          Architect, explained the Masonic significance of the Anchor
          as follows: The anchor is set on an East-West axis so that
          from either the East or West, it assumes the aspect of a
          cross, which for those of the Christian faith it offers the
          promise of life after death. The bell which is mounted on a
          pedestal is placed in the South to toll the noon time of the
          day with half our labors behind us and as many to come. It
          also reminds us of those lives that were cut short in the peak
          of their vitality in order to insure our future and our children's
          heritage.
          Facing the North, the anchor assumes the form of a plumb
          and square, reminding us to always be upright and to
          conduct ourselves on the square, defending the fundamental
          principles which anchor or confirm our commitment to
          freedom and democracy.
          The golden circle which circumscribes the anchor represents
          a temperate but full life. The broken nature of the golden
          circle is symbolic of our young sailors whose lives were
          sacrificed in the peak of their lifetime, in service to their
          country.
          The black foundations supporting the anchor and golden
          circle remind us that through death we are made whole and
          raised up. The intended effect when illuminated at night is to
          raise or levitate the anchor in the perception of all those who
          view it from or beyond the waters of Honolulu Harbor.
          The geometry of the memorial forms a partially seen and
          unseen Masonic emblem. The flukes of the anchor form the
          square, the golden bell is the All-Seeing Eye, and the
          pedestals which support the plaques are arranged in the
          form of an isosceles triangle relative to the foundation which
          supports the bell. When the virtual legs of the compass join
          the pedestals to the bell foundation - Eureka! So Mote It Be.
          For the uninitiated, the placement of the anchor on the
          east-west axis seems to create a sundial as the shadow falls
          across the circumscribing circle and proceeds around the
          half circle following the position of the sun. Because the
          location of the Memorial is in the tropics, the sundial
          appearance is only an illusion.
          M.W Richard W.M. Dang then advised all in attendance that
          the ceremony would be concluded with the Grand Chaplain
          giving the benediction, and thanked Captain Egan and M.W.
          Yamaya for their contribution. He also thanked the many
          brethren and guests for attending the ceremony. The V.R.
          David N.E. Kaohelaulii gave the benediction in Hawaiian,
          thus concluding a unique and most remarkable ceremony.
          At the conclusion of the ceremony Most Worshipful Richard
          W.M. Dang presented Captain Dennis M. Egan with the
          Grand Master's Award, honoring him for his outstanding
          contributions to Freemasonry. The Grand Lodge of Hawaii
          presented Captain Egan with a Hawaiian calabash made of
          Koa wood. Brother Egan was raised in Union Lodge
          A.F.A.M., No. 31. at New London, Connecticut in November
          1971.
          Captain Egan provided 8 inch brass trowels as mementos of
          the occasion which he turned over to Right Worshipful
          Bennett K.C. Ing, Deputy Grand Master, a Past Master of
          Schofield Lodge (originally located on the base at Schofield
          Barracks) who distributed them among the audience. M.W.
          Ing has since been elected Grand Master of Masons in
          Hawaii, for 1996. 
          Perhaps it was our late Brother Rudyard Kipling who
          expressed it best in his "Ballad of East and West" when he
          wrote "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the
          twain shall meet, Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's
          great Judgment Seat; But there is neither East nor West,
          Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, When strong men stand face to
          face, though they come from the ends of the earth! ..."
          UNVEILING and DEDICATION of the C. G. CUTTER
          TANEY MEMORIAL
          Following the Time Capsule/Cornerstone Ceremony, with the
          Piper playing Semper Paratus, the guests and participants
          gathered around the Coast Guard Cutter TANEY Memorial. 
          The V.R. David N.E. Kaohelaulii, Grand Chaplain gave the
          blessing in Hawaiian. Captain Egan served as Master of
          ceremonies and described the activities of the CGC TANEY
          on December 7, 1941, and the action it participated in later
          in the war. He told the audience that the CGC TANEY is now
          preserved as a floating maritime museum in Baltimore,
          Maryland. With the assistance of Captain John Mihlbauer
          representing the Coast Guard Foundation and RADM
          William Kozlovsky of the Honolulu Maritime Museum,
          Captain Egan unveiled the Memorial. At which time all three
          said "We dedicate this memorial to the memory of the brave
          sailors who served on the CGC TANEY during WW II." At
          the same time they broke a bottle of champagne on the
          memorial rock. The memorial is a bronze plaque mounted on
          a rock positioned about ten yards from the Memorial Anchor
          and Bell.
          The plaque has the following inscription: USS Taney
          Memorial, When the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began
          December 7, 1941, Coast Guard Cutter Taney was moored
          to Pier 6 in downtown Honolulu. She was one of the first
          ships to offer naval gunfire support and successfully
          defended Honolulu's primary electric power plant from
          enemy aircraft. During the War the Taney saw action in the
          Atlantic and Pacific oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea.
          After a retrofit in 1944, the Taney became the flagship for the
          Okinawa campaign serving as command and control center
          and shooting down two kamakaze aircraft and an explosive
          laden seaplane.
          Grand Chaplain, V.R. David N.E. Kaohelaulii gave a
          traditional Hawaiian blessing, which was followed by the lone
          Piper giving a rendition of Eternal Father . . . the Coast
          Guard Hymn. The program was concluded with Captain
          Egan leading the entire group in singing the Coast Guard
          Hymn.
          The lone Piper was Brother Larry Jones of Kilauea Lodge,
          located on the Island of Hawaii. From his rousing rendition of
          "Scotland the Brave" to his haunting version of the Coast
          Guard Hymm, he captured everyone's attention.
          Captain Dennis M. Egan developed the Time
          Capsule/Cornerstone ceremony in conjunction with the
          Grand Lecturer, V.W. Donald W. Wilson, a Past Master of
          Ko'olau Lodge, and the Grand Lodge Committee on
          Cornerstone and Memorial Services, chaired by M.W.
          William K. McKee, Jr., P.G.M. Richard L. Patterson of
          Hawaiian Lodge, a 56-Year Mason, and member of the
          Grand Lodge Committee since its inception, played a key
          role in making the ceremony a success. In recognition of his
          special effort and noteworthy services, Brother Patterson
          was awarded the United States Coast Guard Certificate of
          Appreciation.
          *Hawaiian vocabulary: Koa, indigenous hard wood used to
          make bowls and furniture.
          Authors' note: Portions of this article dealing with the
          "Highlights of Sand Island" came from a detailed paper
          researched and written by Eagle Scout Candidate John T.
          Egan, the son of Captain Dennis M. Egan. This writer wishes
          to express his thanks and appreciation to John T. Egan,
          Captain Dennis M. Egan and his secretary Janice Clements,
          for their help and cooperation in providing background
          information utilized in portions of this brief essay.
          Bibliography
          Grand Lodge of Hawaii, Cornerstone Laying Ceremony,
          1989.
          Grand Lodge of Hawaii, Time Capsule Program, 1995.  
          U.S.C.G. Base Honolulu, Cornerstone & Memorial Program
          1995.
          Johnson, Robert E. "Guardians of the Sea, Naval Institute
          Press" 1987.
          Morris, Brent S. "Cornerstones of Freedom" A Masonic
          Tradition. The Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, S.J., 1993.
           "The Honolulu Advertiser" newspapers of July 2, 10, and 11,
          1937.
          