Over 100 well wishers, family and friends were on hand to celebrate the stellar Coast Guard service and retirement of both BMC Sharon Machon-Ames and MK1 Brian Blethen on Saturday, Aug. 1, held at the American Legion Post #36 in Boothbay.

Machon and Blethen were lauded for their years of devoted service and each individually extolled the virtues of one another, having worked well together over the years. 

Boatswain’s Mate Chief Petty Officer (BMC) Sharon Machon-Ames, daughter of retired BMCM Ira Machon of Boothbay Harbor and Charleston, South Carolina, has served her country in the U.S. Coast Guard for 28 and 1/2 years. Her first assignment was to Station South Portland. Her service there was brief as she soon became Seaman Apprentice onboard USCGC Cape Morgan. Machon moved up the ranks and as Quartermaster 3 was assigned to USCGC Midgett in Alameda, California, in 1990. She eventually moved into the Search and Rescue (SAR) controller position. Moving back to her ancestral state of Maine in October 1999, she was assigned to Group Portland as a SAR Controller where she completed one more year of Active Duty; Group Portland was changed to Sector Northern New England; she advanced to E-7 (QMC); did five years as a Coast Guard GS civilian and became a BMC when the Quartermaster rate was eliminated in the Coast Guard. 

Becoming a BMC opened up opportunities for Machon to be eligible to be assigned to a small boat station. Station Boothbay Harbor was the convenient choice for her where she currently resides.

During her eight year service at Station Boothbay Harbor, Machon was put into the Senior Enlisted Reserve Advisor (SERA) position when it was created in June of 2010. She was activated in September 2012 for two months to assist with Operation Deepwater Horizon in Venice, Louisiana. Among the many civilian activities that Machon gives her time and talent to are mentoring young students and as a musician in the Boothbay Region Community Band.

Machinery Technician (MK) First Class Brian Blethen has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 20 plus years. After graduation from Boot Camp in Cape May, New Jersey, he was assigned to Station Boothbay Harbor. He advanced to MK3 in October 1996 and was transferred to Station San Francisco. In April 1998, he transitioned into the Reserves and moved back to Maine to drill at Station Boothbay Harbor.

Blethen had several activations during his 16 years at the Boothbay Harbor Station; September/October 2001 in response to 911, Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for several months, followed by his service to Sector New York from November 2012 through January 2013 in support of the Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort.

While assigned to Station Boothbay Harbor, he advanced to E-6, (Petty Officer First Class) and was an integral part of training many junior members both Active Duty and Reserve. 

As stated in the Coast Guard retirement bulletin, "His expertise as a coxswain (a very uncommon qualification for an engineer) with local knowledge of the Boothbay Area of Responsibility (AOR) was valuable to all new members who reported to the unit."

Blethen has spent the last six months assigned to Station Rockland, providing guidance and leadership to junior members there. In civilian life he has served on the Boothbay Harbor School Committee for three terms and has among other organizations devoted his time as a basketball coach to local students.

Family and guests at this momentous occasion were treated to refreshments and a chance to view all of the awards and citations both officers received in recognition of their selfless service to their country.