PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Valentine’s Day celebrations continued for many families as they greeted their loved ones at the Coast Guard Base in Portsmouth on Wednesday morning.
“It’s the best gift of all," said Ashley Gordon. "We’re just so happy to have him.”
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear returned to its homeport after a 60-day patrol in the Florida Straits and Windward Passage.
“Seeing everybody here, we’re just excited to be home,” said Coast Guard Operations Specialist Kris Gordon.
“It was busy out there and I’m glad to be back to see my daughters,” added Maritime Enforcement Specialist First Class Cory Demery.
The crew of about 100 people focused much of their work the last two months around migrant operations.
“Some of these vessels that the migrants who are leaving their country for a better opportunity in the United States, they put themselves in some grave danger,” said Cmdr. Brooke Millard, the commanding officer for Cutter Bear.
Millard said some of these vessels are carrying hundreds of people and that the weather at sea could become dangerous for travel. She said her crew's job is to find these vessels and try to convince the people on them to return to their country if it's safe.
“If not, we’ll bring them on board our ship where they get food, they have a stable platform, medical attention," Millard said. "Eventually we work through the process of repatriating them back to their home country.”
The crew prevented about six vessels from coming to the U.S. and had about 500 migrants cross the decks.
"The Coast Guard has been doing these missions for a long time," Demery said. "However, the amount of people that we see coming to the United States now creates new challenges for us. So, it all starts at training."
Now, these Coast Guard members are ready for much-needed time off.
“Just reconnecting and seeing extended family,” Gordon said.