ST. IGNACE, Mich. – The Michigan Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve held their annual boss lift event with the U.S. Coast Guard station in St. Ignace Feb. 12 and 13. This is the eighteenth year this event has been conducted. The event included a morning and afternoon “cruise” both days on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter “Biscayne Bay” (WTGB-104) through the Straits of Mackinac. 

This year’s cruise was supported by Coast Guard Station St. Ignace (Master Chief Petty Officer Brett Heary) and the USCGC Biscayne Bay (captained by Lt. Cmdr. Alexander Stewart). Even though ice conditions are constantly changing on the Great Lakes, the Captain and crew found ice to break. A special thanks to them for hosting us. Previous ice breaker cruises have been supported by the Biscayne Bay, Katmai Bay, or Hollyhock. 

Prior to taking the two-hour cruise, employers were given a brief on ESGR and the Coast Guard station. Statements of support were signed in the Wardroom onboard. Each year employers throughout the state of Michigan are invited to attend. This year, a Michigan Senator, John Damoose, as well as representatives from Senator Peters and Congressman Bergman’s offices attended. A TV film crew from WMMZ ABC13 from Grand Rapids was on the Monday afternoon cruise.

Thank you to all of the employer representatives who attended from the following companies: 

Michigan Department of Corrections, American Spoon Foods, Williams Distributing, Otsego County Veterans Affairs, Mayerne/GoGo Squeez, ERP Consultants, Moeller Aerospace, Precision Edge, GLD Management, Indian River Family Dentistry, Country Knoll Electric, Michigan Heating and Cooling, NE MichiganWorks!, Biere De Mac Brew Works, Airborne Angler, Aldevra, LLC, Circuit Controls Corp, Cheboygan County Veterans Services, Grand Valley State University, iHeart Media, Mid-Michigan College, MI Senator John Damoose, MOAA, Rockford Construction, SpartanNash, TubeFab, Wegener Wholesale, Wheeler Motors, WZZM 13. 

This event was supported by ESGR representatives Gary Aten (State Chair), Mel Bauman (Chair Emeritus), and Pete Pallas (NW Area Chair/Ombudsman Director).