By Ron VandenBoom
A time-honored military tradition known as a change of command will be observed Friday, June 18, at 1 p.m. in the Montana National Guard Armory on West Second Street in Havre.
The ceremony will transfer command of the U.S. Coast Guard LORAN-C Station in Havre from Petty Officer First Class Bradley S. Lantz, to Chief Petty Officer Greg J. Hejl.
The ceremony formally restates to the crew of the command the continuity of the authority. It is a formal ritual conducted before the assembled company and is a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another. It is nearly unique to U.S. military forces and the U.S. Coast Guard.
It will include the introduction of the official party, the presentation of awards, the actual change of command and a frocking ceremony.
Petty Officer Lantz assumed command of Havres LORAN-C Station in Feb. 1999 after long-time commander, Chief Petty Officer Joel Gustafson retired.
Lantz will be receiving a promotion to Chief Petty Officer and transferred to a new assignment.
Chief Petty Officer Hejl is coming to Havre vie Portage Mich. where he was assigned to the Coast Guard Electronics Support Detachment Station. He is a native of Frankfort, Mich. and is married to the former Eileen Donnelly of Rockville, Md. They have three children Alan, Jacqueline and Nathan.
A reception will follow the ceremony and the public is invited to attend.
