18APR2019 - Astoria, OR (Memorial & Celebration of Life for Dick)

Very early Thursday morning Jeff Garret & I began our carpool drive to Astoria, OR, for the day's memorial events in honor/memory of our recently departed classmate - Dick Lang.  Being well trained coasties we naturally arrived early (very early).  I suggested we drive over to Hammond, OR, to see one of the last projects Dick was working on.  Being an avid fisherman living in Astoria sometime ago Dick started a search for a large warehouse/storage building that was large enough that he could easily drive his boat & trailer into & out of; & very near to the Hammond boat launch.

Eventually he found the ideal building less than 1/2 mile from the launch.  He fixed up a sleeping area upstairs with a small kitchenette; & washer & dryer downstairs.  This not only allowed him to spend the night when fishing several days in a row without driving back to Astoria; but provided a spot for poker games with friends from the Moose Lodge.  Dick’s last step was to install a boat rinse facility to earn some income from the hundreds of boats that use the Hammond boat launch.  But since we are a much more environmentally aware society (& this being Oregon) there were many, many, hoops to jump through!  First off the facility was only for “rinsing” not “washing”, there would be no water runoff, & water would be treated before entering the sewer system.  The facility has been completed, but not sure Dick ever got a permit to operate?

From there Jeff suggested we head to Fort Clatsop, one of 12 installations of the Lewis & Clark National & State Historical Parks around the mouth of the Columbia River located in Washington & Oregon.  It was welcome a two hour distraction from the purpose of our visit to Astoria.  Highly recommended.

After a quick change into our SDBs, we drove to the Astoria Maritime Memorial immediately below the south end of the Astoria-Megler Bridge.  At 1400 a small group of family & friends gathered for a Memorial Ceremony for Dick.  This was in keeping with Dick & wife Betsy’s wishes.  Their wishes were for this intimate ceremony, followed by the installation of a memorial maritime plague in Dick’s name on the walls of Maritime Memorial; at a later date Dick’s ashes will be buried at sea from a CG Cutter.  Jeff & I were honored to be invited to represent the Coast Guard & the USCGA Class of 1974 at the Memorial.  Unfortunately the installations of the memorial plagues occurs only once a year, & the Lang family missed the due date by two weeks.  But Dick's plaque should be up next year, looking out over the mouth of the Columbia.

At 1500 there was an open invitation to the “Celebration of Life & Potluck” for Dick at the Astoria Moose Lodge.  In addition to more family there were people who sailed with Dick on CG vessels; 911 personnel from the Astoria call center that Dick was key in upgrading & modernizing; fellow volunteers from local Disabled American Veterans office; Moose poker buddies; Relay for Life team members; a lady whose first high school date that her parents allowed was Dick; & lots of fishing buddies.

During the event there was a microphone at the front of the hall that anyone could spontaneously use to reminisce about their memories of Dick.  Most of the recollections were humorous, some were sad (mostly about opportunities missed), but the one that really caught my attention was when Dick was 12, he and his 14 year old brother went on a multi-day bicycle trip in the UK without any adults!

All too soon, Jeff & I had to start the drive back to the Seattle area.  It was an emotional day, but we were satisfied that our classmate had a fitting send-off by family & many friends who were touched by his life.  Jeff & I were honored to represent the Coast Guard & the Class of 1974 on this special day in Dick's memory!  -  dan