Alpena, MI – U.S. Senator Carl Levin and lifelong Alpena resident Betty Krueger will be honored with The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) 2005 Stewardship Awards, September 17th, during a tribute gala to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. World renowned ocean explorer and NMSF Trustee Dr. Robert Ballard will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event and special guests expected to participate include U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak and State Representative Matthew Gillard.

Senator Levin is being honored for his leadership on Great Lakes issues, particularly for securing the designation of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and subsequently the additional funding for the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Levin co-chairs the Senate Great Lakes Task Force where he’s fought hard to protect the environmental and economic interests of the Great Lakes.

"Whether they are preserving history through underwater archaeology or protecting the future through marine conservation, the National Marine Sanctuaries are national treasures,” said Senator Levin. “I have seen first-hand at the Thunder Bay Sanctuary in Michigan the work of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in supporting these vital sanctuaries and it is a great honor to receive this award."

Betty Krueger will receive the Stewardship Award for her tireless efforts on behalf of Thunder Bay, especially for her development and management of the sanctuary’s volunteer program. Krueger has been a volunteer for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary since before its designation and currently serves as citizen-at-large for the Sanctuary Advisory Council.

“As a lifelong resident of Alpena, I truly appreciate the natural and cultural heritage we have in Thunder Bay,” said Krueger. “It has been a delight to see the attention and focus that the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has brought to our community and I am proud to be associated with its efforts.”

Earlier this year she was named the 2005 Thunder Bay Volunteer of the Year. She was among the sanctuary program volunteers who were honored for their exemplary service at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Leadership Awards Dinner, held June 7 in Washington, D.C.

For the past five years, Krueger has played an integral role in organizing the Thunder Bay Maritime Festival—the sanctuary’s largest annual event—taking on the sizeable task of contacting and coordinating the entire staff of 100 volunteers for the festival. Since she began working with the Sanctuary, Krueger’s energy and extensive local contacts have helped provide the program with a steadily growing volunteer base, inspiring people to take interest and help protect the gems of maritime heritage that lie within Thunder Bay.

The public is invited to attend the Awards Gala. Tickets are $75 each and attire is semi-formal. The event will be held at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center following a public grand opening in the afternoon from 11:00am-1:00pm. These are the first public events to take place at the new 20,000 square foot facility, which features a Discovery Center, an auditorium with capability to show live video feeds from shipwrecks, and an archaeological conservation laboratory.

The Thunder Bay 5th Anniversary Celebration is hosted by Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Sponsors include Alpena Marc LLC, Thunder Bay Manufacturing Corporation, Alpena Power Company, Alpena Regional Medical Center, LaFarge North America-Alpena Plant, Oppenheimer, RS Information Systems Inc., Sports Unlimited and Women’s Health Center of Alpena.

Located in Lake Huron, the 448-square-mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was established in 2000 to protect an estimated 200 historically significant shipwrecks ranging from nineteenth century wooden side-wheelers to twentieth century steel-hulled steamers. The Sanctuary brings to the American public the lore of Great Lakes maritime heritage through exploration, education and research.