Lilac Preservation Project

10/12/2026

Looking forward to music from Torge Goderstad and friends this Sunday at 4:30 PM as part of our Open House New York Weekend. The rehearsals resonated through the deck and brought lovely sounds to the wardroom which will be open to the public for the performance. Join us!

09/20/2026

More work on installing the original wheel on the original steering stand. The wheel was returned year's ago by former Lilac commanding officer Homer Purdy. We recently obtained the original steering stand from the son of Lilac's last owner. We discovered that in 1968 or so when the wheel was replaced due to a bad wobble, the shaft was also. So, the wheel no longer fits on the shaft. Engineer Gary put in several hours honing the wheel's hub and sanding down the shaft with several trial fits. It's not quite there yet, but we're close.

09/11/2026

25 years ago today, the U.S. Coast Guard put out the call for "all available boats" to assist as people fled the 9/11 attacks and the falling towers. Vessels surged to the waterfront of lower Manhattan and people jumped and scrambled to get on board the ferries, tugs, and fishing boats that responded. Approximately 500,000 people were rescued by mariners that day. It became the biggest maritime evacuation in American history, rivaling WWII evacuations at Dunkirk and at the Russian front. Let us not forget that in a city of islands, mariners and their vessels are our lifelines.

09/04/2026

We recently installed the original binnacle and compass which came to us from Henry Houck III, a son of Lilac's last owner. His parents left it to him in their will. Thanks to board member Patrick Gadsby for funding the purchase. We installed it on the base of a binnacle donated many years ago by Gerry Weinstein. Henry was surprised the original base was gone as he says it was on board when they sold the ship. It definitely wasn't there when we got it. Like other items gone missing from Lilac, it might yet turn up one day.

08/28/2026

LILAC received a love letter from a young fan last week. Simon and his mom presented it to Captain Mary with a lavender rose.

08/22/2026

We are humbled to accept the sword of Lilac's second Commanding Officer, CWO Charles L. Lewis. His great-grandson and great-great-grandson presented the engraved saber and its scabbard to us yesterday.

08/04/2026

Happy 236th birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard! Semper paratus

07/29/2026

LILAC will be closed Saturday, August 1 so crew can join in events at the Governors Island reunion commemorating 30 years since the Coast Guard base there closed. We look forward to welcoming Coasties aboard on Sunday. https://www.facebook.com/gibratsannualhomecoming/

We are a group of former GI Brats that gather on Governors Island each year on the closest weekend to Coast Guard Day - Aug 4. All are welcome!

07/27/2026

We did it! We put the Coast Guard emblem back on the stack on Friday. Thank you everyone. Semper paratus.