Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL-755), a Legend-class National Security Cutter home-ported in Alameda, California, made a brief but memorable visit to Puerto Vallarta last week, arriving Thursday, November 27th (Thanksgiving Day) and departing Friday, November 28th.
Named after Signalman First Class Douglas Munro – the only Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor – the Munro carries a proud legacy into its missions of homeland security, drug and migrant interdiction, and search and rescue throughout the Pacific.
The port call coincided with the Thanksgiving holiday, creating a unique opportunity for camaraderie between the crew and the local American veteran community. Early Thursday afternoon, members of American Legion Post 12 Banderas Bay, ANAVETS Unit 19 Puerto Vallarta (the Canadian Legion), their families, and invited guests were welcomed aboard for a private tour of the cutter. Guided by the crew, visitors explored the ship’s operational sections and learned about the challenges of life at sea.
“It was a real privilege to spend Thanksgiving alongside the crew of the Munro. Their professionalism and good humour made the visit feel less like a tour and more like sharing the holiday with old friends,” said Cheryl Lund, U.S. Navy veteran and newly elected board member of American Legion Post 12 Banderas Bay.
That evening, American Legion Post 12 Banderas Bay hosted the captain and crew for a Thanksgiving Day reception at La Dolce Vita Ristorante Bar Italiano along the Malecón. Father Tony Clark of Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church attended the reception and offered a prayer and Thanksgiving Day blessing for the ship’s captain and crew. In a gesture of gratitude, Capt. James O’Mara, the commanding officer of the Munro, presented the restaurant staff at La Dolce Vita with a commemorative plaque to thank them for their hospitality and support.
The team at La Dolce Vita expressed their sincere appreciation for the visit, noting, “We greatly enjoyed the visit from the crew of the USCGC Munro, especially on such a special day as Thanksgiving. We hope this is the first of many visits.”
Reflecting on the reception, Post Commander Jesse Cole Rivera—recently re-elected to lead American Legion Post 12 Banderas Bay—added, “It was truly an honor and a privilege to host the captain and crew of the USCGC Munro for Thanksgiving dinner. We wanted to give them a home away from home and make sure they felt welcome while they were in port.”
The visit of the USCGC Munro not only highlighted the cutter’s ongoing commitment to maritime security but also strengthened the ties between U.S. service members and the American veteran community abroad. For many in Puerto Vallarta, the Thanksgiving port call was a meaningful reminder of shared service, fellowship, and gratitude.