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Congratulations to Captain James A. Kirk, U.S. Navy, who has been named the recipient of the prestigious Joshua L. Chamberlain Award.

Brunswick, Maine  – Congratulations to Captain James A. Kirk, U.S.  Navy, who has been named the recipient of the prestigious Joshua L. Chamberlain Award.  The award will be presented at the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber’s Annual Meeting, “The Big Night Out”, Friday, January 23, 5 – 8 p.m. at Merrymeeting Plaza, Bath Rd., Brunswick.  Register and pay online at www.midcoastmaine.com. I

Captain Kirk is the Commanding Officer, Pre-Commissioning Unit ZUMWALT (DDG-1000), Bath, Maine.  Since his arrival in Bath about 18 months ago, Captain  Kirk has embarked upon an aggressive personal public relations effort to build a close relationship with people from Mid Coast Maine communities. His objective has been to introduce the personality of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt and the Guided Missile Destroyer ZUMWALT (DDG-1000) to all hands in the local area, thereby enhancing their knowledge of the latest cutting edge of advanced naval technology being incorporated into the construction of the ship by Bath Iron Works. In so doing, Captain Kirk has provided an extraordinary influence of understanding and appreciation between the military and civilian communities throughout the Mid Coast region not seen since the closing of the Brunswick U. S. Naval Air Station in 2011.

Captain Kirk has strongly encouraged the approximately 95 current members of the advance crew of the pre-commissioning unit in their spare time to participate in many of the activities in the neighborhoods where their families reside. The crew as a whole has assisted with honoring our veterans at the Togus VA hospital, developing future members of the sea services by engaging with the Naval Sea Cadets (sponsored by the Navy League of the United States, the Casco Bay Council of the Navy League and the U.S. Coast Guard of Portland), supporting preservation efforts at the Seguin Island Lighthouse, assisting with construction of a local home with Habitat for Humanity, volunteering to coach Middle School Soccer Teams and engaging regularly at the Bath Food Bank. CAPT Kirk has contributed to a broad community relationship with the Mid Coast region in keeping with the highest traditions of the U. S. Naval Service.

About the Award: In 1976, the Chamber’s Military-Community Council began recognizing  individuals in our area, who through their outstanding dedication and service toward the best possible military-community relationship within this area, deserved to be singled out, congratulated, and remembered. That decision was made in recognition that it has been the collective effort of many individuals, over many years, which has fostered the very excellent relationship that exists today between the military and civilian communities in this area.  Solider, statesman, educator and businessman Joshua L. Chamberlain was selected as the namesake for the annual award. Joshua Chamberlain lived between 1828-1914. He was a Maine native appointed to the Bowdoin College faculty in 1856. During the Civil War, he attained the rank of general, participated in 20 major battles, and was the hero of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, he was elected Governor of Maine by the largest vote margin ever attained. In 1876, he was President of Bowdoin College, serving for seven years. He later ran a railroad construction company and was Surveyor of Customs for Portland Harbor.

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About the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber (SMMC): The mission of SMMC is to “Increase Prosperity in our Region” which includes sixteen municipalities in the counties of Cumberland, Lincoln and Sagadahoc.  The SMMC currently serves more than 700 area businesses in the towns of Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.  Members of the SMMC are listed  on  www.midcoastmaine.com.