Two members of the region's congressional delegation, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, and Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, were invited to attend Thursday's official designation of San Diego as the nation's second largest Coast Guard City.
Peters attended the ceremony while Hunter canceled at the last moment.
The designation recognizes San Diego’s commitment to the U.S. Coast Guard, its service members and their families.
Hunter is seen as a strong supporter of the Coast Guard and he did attend a Wednesday night dinner with Adm. Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the Coast Guard.
“I’m sure (Hunter's) heart was here, but he was called away to other business,” Zukunft said.
“I’ve been really busy this week," Peters said. "I think we have something every night. We’ve had two town halls and a meeting with a lot of the local activist community. Tonight I’ve got a Biocom event. I think I might see my family tomorrow night. It’s been a busy week but I think appropriately so. It’s an important time.”
Peters also acknowledged the importance of the city's relationship with the USCG.
"(The Coast Guard) also works really closely with the port and the harbor police, and all the other agencies, to take care of us here. So, it's a great recognition for San Diego to be named a Coast Guard City," Peters said.
Congress established the Coast Guard City program in 1998 to recognize cities with military assets of the USCG and their support for personnel stationed there. San Diego has been home to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Diego since 1937.
To date, sixteen cities have been designated by Congress as Coast Guard Cities.
