The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard with great pleasure presented the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to Mr. Peter Kennedy on March 19, 2010 for his significant contributions to the preservation and celebration of Coast Guard history. Recognizing the remarkable design and truly historic performance of legendary Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG36500, famous for its heroic 1952 rescue by Mr. Bernie Webber and crew of 32 mariners from the grounded SS Pendleton amidst a ferocious Nor'easter, Mr. Kennedy endeavored to completely restore the rescue craft. He led a team of talented and dedicated Orleans Historical Society volunteers on a tireless mission to convert the weather-exposed, dilapidated hull of the decommissioned CG36500 back to full operational capability. Through countless hours of detailed workmanship, dedicated research to replicate the craft’s original configuration and thousands of dollars of donated funds, CG36500 emerged from a series of overhauls to become a floating museum and the only fully-restored and operational 36-footer from its class of 132 boats built at the Curtis Bay Yard. Demonstrating exceptional enthusiasm, Mr. Kennedy and other volunteers have continued to maintain CG36500 as an educational and inspirational exhibit for the entire Coast Guard and our Nation.
