Sailors proudly represent USS Estocin in the annual Fort Knox Bay Festival in Bucksport, Maine. Photo courtesy of USS Estocin

Estocin Celebrates Fort Knox Bay Festival

By SM2(SW) Jonathon Page
USS Estocin

On the Northeast coast of Maine, there is a small town with a population less than that of an aircraft carrier, but brimming over with American pride.

Every year in Bucksport, Maine, a festival is held honoring American past and present heroes. USS Estocin (FFG-15) recently had the honor of being a major part of the 2002 Fort Knox Bay Festival.

The festival, held annually across the river from the original Fort Knox, is an intriguing combination of past and present.

Honoring military heroes from the birth of the country all the way to the present day, there are soldiers dressed in late 17th-century uniforms walking down Main Street alongside present-day Sailors.

The residents recreated a Revolution-period Fort Knox military campsite overlooking the guided missile fast frigate.

USS Estocin looked somewhat out of time tied up to the small pier along the Penobscot River, but it definitely was not out of place at the festival. The people of Bucksport greeted the crew with unparalleled enthusiasm.

Within minutes of mooring, the town's mayor was on board the ship to present a key to the city to Cmdr. Scott Phillpott, Estocin's commanding officer.

''Our town welcomes you with open arms and is appreciative of the job you do every day,'' she said.

Among many other activities, Estocin Sailors were invited to march in Bucksport's annual Fort Knox Bay Festival parade.

''Every time we marched in front of a large crowd, everyone would start cheering and applauding,'' ST2 Bob Ingerson remembered the experience with pride. ''It really makes the job I do worth while.''

During the visit, Estocin Sailors perused the shops, attended concerts performed on a stage located right in front of the ship, and, had the opportunity to enjoy fresh Maine lobster.

Festivities lasted well into the evening and concluded with a fireworks display using the ship as the foreground. It was a patriotic display of pyrotechnics that Estocin's crew and the people of Bucksport enjoyed side by side.

While Estocin Sailors were enjoying Bucksport's charms, more than 2,200 people were able to come on board to tour the U.S. Navy ship.

''This is even better than when I got my own TV in my room!'' one 7-year-old visitor said.