From a CatholicPhilly.com article, “Retiring from the service, he embarks on new service to church”:
“An unusual event occurred early this month at the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia in South Philadelphia.
A special ceremony Jan. 2 in the former St. Rita Church on South Broad Street, which closed as a parish in 2014 but remains as the home of the shrine, featured First Class Petty Officer Michael Anastasi of the United States Coast Guard who marked his formal retirement from military service after 20 years active duty.
At the ceremony attended by his wife, Tara, family, friends and former military comrades, citations were read by his former superior, Chief Warrant Officer Michael West, who said, “Petty Officer Anastasi’s dedication, judgment and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard…”
