U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock gets a new captain

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock rocked gently back and forth in its moorings near Pine Grove Park as Lt. Cmdr. Nick Monacelli stepped onto the buoy deck for the last time as the ship's captain Wednesday.

“This could be my last time at sea,” he said, addressing the crowd and crewmembers that had gathered on the deck for a change of command ceremony. “But I will cherish those memories and that growth for the rest of my career and the rest of my life.”

The ceremony is held about every three years, signifying the transfer of authority and responsibility of the ship.

But Monacelli’s command was cut short. Several months ago he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He was unable to command the ship, so several interim officers were put in place.

“I wasn’t ready to go,” he said. “It was an odd feeling, trying to do the best you can … it was challenging of course, but it couldn’t have been done without the crew sticking together.”

Despite this, Monacelli said he feels content to turn over command of the ship.

“I feel like I’m leaving no loose strings and the ship is ready to keep going on and doing great things,” he said. “They don’t need me anymore.”

Monacelli — who has a background working as a criminal litigator — will be taking on a new assignment working out of the Coast Guard Ninth District’s legal office in Detroit while he finishes his chemotherapy.

Hollyhock gets a new captain

During the ceremony, command of the ship was transferred to Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Brickey.

Brickey has 15 years of experience with the U.S. Coast Guard, eight of which have been on board four other cutters. Most recently, he was in command of the cutter George Cobb.

But throughout his experience, he has never served in the ninth district or in an official capacity on the Great Lakes. While he has buoy tending experience, he’s new to icebreaking.

What really draws him to a ship is the camaraderie with the crew, he said.

“It’s getting everyone moving together in the same direction with the same purpose and getting the job done, it’s just indescribable,” Brickey said.

Of the week he’s been in Port Huron, Brickey says the area is beautiful and the people are friendly and welcoming.

“It’s a great community here," he said. 

Words for the crew

In a fleet of ships with other magnificent names — Sequoia, Cypress, Walnut — Hollyhock gets its namesake from a wildflower who’s seeds can lay dormant for 50 years, Monacelli said.

A hollyhock sprouts under the harshest conditions, usually a wildfire, he said.  

“So to see this crew really go through those wildfires time and time again and to bloom on the other side was simply phenomenal and it’s been my great pleasure to see that,” Monacelli said. “Everyone should take pride and really recognize that you have lived up to the highest standards of what it means to be a cutterman.

"I’m proud to call myself a Holly and I’m proud to call myself a member of this crew."

Contact Brian Wells at (810) 357-8668 or bwells@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @bmwellsphoto.