US COAST GUARD Memorial service

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Coast Guard crewmembers from all along the west coast of Florida gathered together to honor the 30th anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision Thursday, January 28, 2010, at Blackthorn Memorial Park in St. Petersburg. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. Twenty-three of the Blackthorn's 50 crewmembers lost their lives during the Coast Guard's worst peacetime disaster. Crewmembers posted roses at the memorial site in honor of the 23 fallen Coast Guard members. A memorial inscribed with the names of the crewmembers that perished now stands two miles north of the accident site. The ceremony consisted of remarks by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen, a cutterman's salute by Rear Adm. Steve Branham, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, an aerial salute by Coast Guard aircraft, posting of the Colors and reading of the lost crewmembers' names. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sondra-Kay Kneen.