The sweet and stirring sounds of bagpipes were heard on Saturday, May 9, 2009, as friends, family, and shipmates gathered in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, to attend the memorial service of a true Coast Guard hero.  Bernie Webber, CWO (Ret.) "crossed the bar" on January, 24, 2009 at his home in Melbourne, Florida, at the age of 80.
Webber became a reluctant hero when he and his crew rescued 32 stranded mariners form the ill-fated tanker, Pendleton, which split in half during a Nor’easter on February 18, 1952.  For their extraordinary actions, Webber and his crew were awarded the Coast Guard's highest honor, the Gold Lifesaving Medal.
Webber’s memorial service brought together members of the Coast Guard family.  Many Auxiliarists were also present, including FSO-PA Michael Goodwin of the West Chester Flotilla (053-04-49 5NR) a staff member of the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band and bagpiper/Auxiliarist Robert L. Terlisner, of Point Judith Flotilla, RI (013-07-09 1NR).  Terlisner, who was an active-duty Guardian during the 1980s, has been playing the bagpipes for approximately 15 years.  He is now a piper for the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band.

After the service, Terlisner had the opportunity to meet with Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard.  Admiral Allen presented Terlisner with his coin and thanked the piper for his service.

As Webber’s memorial service concluded at the grave side, Terlisner could be heard piping the Coast Guard Hymn in the distance--a fitting tribute to a Guardian's service.