The love between the City of Sturgeon Bay and the United States Coast Guard has stood the test of time for over 130 years.

It was in 1886 when work was completed on the Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay, shortly after the then privately owned Sturgeon Bay & Lake Michigan Ship Canal transferred the surrounding land to the U.S. government. The Coast Guard’s presence in the community has grown to include the Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay and the marine safety detachment. The city’s Maritime Week celebration corresponds with the Coast Guard’s birthday on August 4th, kicking off a week-long celebration that this year included fireworks, a Bloody Mary social, and the Door County Maritime Museum’s Classic and Wooden Boat Show. Other events celebrating the United States Coast Guard are planned for the coming days, something that helped lead Sturgeon Bay to be declared a U.S. Coast Guard City in 2014.

The feeling is mutual between the city and Guardsman that call Sturgeon Bay home. Chief Nick Grim is the Executive Petty Officer for Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay after previous tours in Oregon, North Carolina, New York, California, and Alaska. While he enjoyed those other stops, he has enjoyed Sturgeon Bay the most.

Grim adds that he will be sad to leave Sturgeon Bay next summer for his next tour because of the community he has become a part of over the last two years. The U.S. Coast Guard Person of the Year will be given out on August 9th at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. You can listen to our full interview with Chief Nick Grim here.