05/24/2025
Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, held an enhanced Boat America (BA) program on May 17 for local Wounded Warriors. Gordon Hornby, Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Education, Jim Fogle, Instructor, and Staff Sgt. Walter Brown (Ret.), Wounded Warrior Coordinator, organized the program. Instructors included Gordon Hornby, Jim Fogle, David Rockwell, and Tony Hooper. Brian Rewinkel, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Outreach Coordinator, furnished books and materials, and Tracy Adkins, Flotilla Staff Officer-Materials, provided administrative support.
Lt. Andrew Grady, USCG Chief of the Enforcement Division, greeted the students and expressed his support for the Wounded Warriors, National Safe Boating Week, and the Auxiliary.
Flotilla 72 members, Jack Lee and Lewis Evans, assisted with setting up and greeting students.
Classes kicked off at 0830 in the St. Petersburg Maritime and Defense Hub. The Bayou Market and Café, St. Petersburg, catered lunch.
This was the second BA Program that Flotilla 72 conducted for groups of the Wounded Warrior Program, and 27 veterans graduated.