Media invited to attend viewing of Rescue Men

March 3, 2010

NEW YORK – Media are invited to attend a movie viewing honoring the crew of U.S. Lifesaving Station Pea Island at the College of Staten Island.

WHO: Media invited

WHAT: Movie viewing of Rescue Men, directed by Allan Smith

WHERE: College of Staten Island, Center for the Arts,

Bldg 1P, Room 116

2800 Victory Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10314

WHEN: Thursday, March 3, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

A representative from Congressman Michael McMahon’s office and local Coast Guardsmen will attend a special viewing of Rescue Men, a documentary of Station Pea Island on the Outer Banks. The director, Allan Smith, will be available to answer questions at the end of the move.

Lifesaving Station Pea Island was the first lifesaving station to be manned by an entirely black crew.

The U.S. Life-Saving Service was formed in 1871 to assure safe passage of Americans and international shipping and to save lives and salvage cargo. Station 17, located on the desolate beaches of Pea Island, N.C., and manned by a crew of seven, bore the brunt of this dangerous but vital duty.

Richard Etheridge, a former slave and Civil War veteran, was the captain of the Pea Island station and only African American man to lead a lifesaving crew during that time. Etheridge recruited and trained a team comprised entirely of blacks to man Station 17.

In 1880, at a time of Civil War and slavery, it was unheard of to have African Americans in a position of authority, let alone keepers of their own lifesaving station - yet the Pea Island crew is credited with saving scores of men, women, and children. This story, never before told on film, is the remarkable journey of Richard Etheridge and his crew. They were a crew of heroes that conducted the most daring rescues in the history of the lifesaving services.

For more information on the crew of Lifesaving Station Pea Island, click the photo above or visit: http://www.uscg.mil/History/stations/PEAISLAND.asp

Members of the media are invited to attend. Please call Coast Guard Public Affairs at (212) 668-7114 to confirm attendance.

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