Civilians honored in HarborFest Coast Guard ceremony; Coastie promoted

By Delcenia Cosman

Reporter, Homer Independent Press


The U.S. Guard Coast commended three Homer mariners last Friday at the start of the Homer HarborFest, now in its second year. In an awards ceremony held at the Deep Water Dock, Coast Guard Lt. Juston Lee presented Kelsey Haas, Alex Moseley and Galen Lyon with civilian commendations for their roles in a maritime emergency response last summer. All three received the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award.

Serving as master of ceremonies, Lee also honored former Coast Guard member Kate Mitchell and advanced in rank Petty Officer 1st Class Para Upchurch to Chief Petty Officer.

Haas and Moseley make up the two-person crew of the North Cape, a charter vessel owned by the Homer-based water taxi company Coldwater Alaska. Lyon owns Ashore Water Taxi in Homer and captains the Squalus. Both vessels responded to a distress call in July 2025 when a recreational vessel carrying seven passengers sank in Kachemak Bay, about two miles southwest of the Homer Spit.

Lee said that the North Cape and Squalus responded “without hesitation.”

“Once on scene, the North Cape coordinated its rescue efforts with another Good Samaritan vessel, the Squalus. The experienced captains of both vessels triaged the situation and developed a rescue plan,” he said. 

The North Cape rescued five of the seven passengers from the water, and the Squalus picked up the other two. 

Lee commended Haas, Moseley and Lyon for their dedication to public service, which he said was “in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.”

Haas and Moseley both said later that they were “incredibly grateful” for the recognition, but that it was “just the right thing to do.”

“We were just there at the right place at the right time, and made it happen. Anyone would have done the same,” Haas said.

In honoring Mitchell, a longtime Homer resident and the founder of NOMAR Alaska, Lee said she “consistently goes above and beyond for the Coast Guard and the community alike.”

“You may have had the privilege of hearing (her) speak about Coast Guard history, specifically Alaskan Coast Guard history. It is a true pleasure to hear her stories, and I can promise you that you will not leave without learning something new,” Lee said. “We are extremely lucky to have (her) within our community.”

Mitchell served in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserves, also called SPARS, from 1964 to 1969. Her late husband, Bill Mitchell, also served in the Coast Guard from 1959 to 1980. 

Reading from a letter of appreciation written for Mitchell, Lee expressed deep appreciation for Mitchell’s “unwavering support” of Marine Safety Detachment Homer and her “lifelong dedication” to the Coast Guard.

“You have consistently gone above and beyond to ensure our personnel are well-cared for. Your responsiveness, hospitality and genuine care for our Coast Guard members directly contributes to our unit’s high morale and overall ability to execute our maritime safety and security missions in the Homer community,” he said. 

Lee said that Mitchell continues to embody the core values of the Coast Guard.

“From your time in uniform to your ongoing support to our modern crews, you remain an integral and cherished part of our Coast Guard family,” he said. 

The presentation concluded with a ceremony advancing Petty Officer 1st Class Para Upchurch to Chief Petty Officer.

Lee linked Upchurch’s advancement to the rich history and traditions of the Coast Guard and called it the most significant transition that first-class petty officers would ever make in their careers.

“The words ‘go ask the chief’ have resounded throughout the U.S. Coast Guard since the establishment of the enlisted rank of Chief Petty Officer. Chief petty officers are the front line leaders of the Coast Guard. As influential and inspiring leaders, chiefs form the bridge between officers and enlisted personnel,” he said. “Once a chief, always a chief.”

With those words, Lee also invited any current or former USCG chiefs to the front of the stage for a moment of recognition and highlighted the significance of Upchurch’s advancement as they now welcomed her into the chief’s mess forever. 

In addition to the civilian commendation ceremony and chief pinning ceremony, the fast response cutter Earl Cunningham, visiting from Kodiak, and the USCG cutter Aspen were available for public tours as part of Friday’s Coast Guard Day.

Homer Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brad Anderson wrote via email Tuesday that this was the first year the chamber worked with the Coast Guard to put on HarborFest — a partnership they would like to continue in the future.

“(The Coast Guard) had to cancel the live rescue demonstration due to limited resources at the time of our event, but we hope to include that next year,” he wrote.

The chamber initiated HarborFest last year as a way to both highlight the Homer Harbor and to build more visitor traffic between Memorial Day and July.

“The HarborFest event gives us a chance to kick off the summer with an exciting event that showcases all the activities that make Homer special: boats, music, food and the arts with one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world of Kachemak Bay,” Anderson wrote.

Last year’s HarborFest was a one-day event; Anderson said that hosting it for two days this year was “a big improvement … allowing for our vendors to interact with many more people.”

He said that overall attendance last weekend was around 2,600 people, and that this year’s HarborFest had 66 vendors, an increase from the inaugural event. 

Learn more at HarborFest.