GLOUCESTER, MA – Mayor Paul Lundberg has reconstituted the City’s Mariners Medal Committee, an important step in recognizing individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary courage, skill, and seamanship on the high seas.
Established under Sections 2-450 through 2-454 of the City of Gloucester Ordinances, the Mariners Medal honors individuals who have performed “an act of heroism and extraordinary seamanship on the high seas.” The award reflects Gloucester’s proud maritime heritage and its longstanding tradition of recognizing those who exemplify the highest standards of courage and professionalism at sea.
Under the ordinance, the Mariners Medal Committee consists of the Mayor, three appointed members with experience serving as master of a commercial vessel on the high seas, and one additional member. The committee is responsible for reviewing nominations and recommending recipients to the City Council, which makes the final determination on awarding the Medal.
Mayor Lundberg recently appointed Gloucester sea captains Vito Giacalone, Joseph Orlando, and David Leveille as well as Gloucester educator Mary Fay “Miffy” Somers to serve on the Mariners Medal Committee. Those appointments are effective immediately, and are subject to confirmation by the City Council within 90 days.
The reconstitution of the committee comes at an important time following a recent amendment to the Mariners Medal ordinance approved by the City Council. Previously, nominations were limited to acts of heroism that occurred within six months of the nomination being submitted. As a result, there is now no time limit on eligible acts of heroism. The change opens the door for the City to recognize deserving mariners whose extraordinary actions may have occurred in the past, ensuring that acts of courage and exceptional seamanship are not overlooked simply because of when they occurred.
“Gloucester’s identity has always been deeply connected to the sea,” said Mayor Lundberg. “By reconstituting the Mariners Medal Committee and removing the previous time limitation on nominations, we are creating new opportunities to honor the brave men and women whose actions embody the very best of our maritime tradition.”
The Mariners Medal Committee will be issuing guidelines governing the nomination process before the end of June.
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Mayor Paul Lundberg
City of Gloucester
Good Morning Gloucester 