ROCKLAND – Some in this midcoast city want to wave a new flag.

Besides being dubbed the Lobster Capital of the World, Rockland has some community leaders who have been considering ways to win official designation as a Coast Guard City.

It would require the blessing of the U.S. Coast Guard commandant in Washington.

So far, seven cities nationwide can boast of it.

What does the designation mean?

An informal committee has been working on ways to meet the criteria. They include support for educational and scholarship programs, sponsorship of Sailor of the Quarter and Sailor of the Year honors and similar awards, and demonstration of sensitivity to life-altering events within the Coast Guard community.

Rockland’s promoters argue that the city already has a good foundation on which to build:

. The region’s abundant lighthouses, dotting the coast, and the city’s signature Rockland Breakwater Light, which is being renovated.

. The Maine Lighthouse Museum, which showcases the old U.S. Lighthouse Service, the Coast Guard and U.S. Life Saving Service artifacts.

. And, of course, the city’s Coast Guard station and the cutter Abbie Burgess, named for a famous lighthouse heroine.

For decades, Grand Haven, Mich., was hailed as Coast Guard City USA – long before there was an official label.

Now, Grand Haven is considered “the” Coast Guard city because it got the whole thing started and is an example of what it means to have a partnership between city and service. Others so designated are Eureka, Calif.; Mobile, Ala.; Morgan City, La.; Wilmington, N.C.; Newport, Ore.; and Alameda, Calif.

“Not everyone had to be a Grand Haven,” said Ann Matlack, executive assistant to Rockland’s city manager. “But they had to reach out to the Coast Guard community.”

On Nov. 13, 1998, a law was enacted allowing Grand Haven to be formally called Coast Guard City USA, and the others followed. The designations have to be recertified every five years.

Matlack said the Coast Guard in recent years has “put together the framework” for achieving the designation.

Last month, an informal committee of community leaders pondered several ways to build stronger ties with the Coast Guard.

Ideas ranged from a merchants’ welcome wagon and discounts offered to local crew members and families, developing an ombudsman group to guide newcomers and others to area resources, recognizing the Coast Guard during the Maine Lobster Festival – which coincides with the service’s birthday, Aug. 4 – and signage denoting Rockland as home to U.S. Coast Guard Station Rockland.

The committee proposed talking with the Maine Lobster Festival about recognizing Coast Guard Day onstage the evening of Friday, Aug. 4, and showing off its color guard at that time. Also mentioned: approaching festival organizers about having a few Coast Guardsmen join Navy sailors in escorting Sea Princesses on stage for the Maine Sea Goddess coronation, which traditionally has involved only Navy men.

In past years, the Coast Guard has celebrated its birthday a week late because it conflicts with the Lobster Festival. So the committee mentioned the possibility of a picnic held separately from the festival.

The committee also hopes to enlist local service organizations, the Coast Guard

Auxiliary, the Rockland-Thomaston Area Chamber of Commerce and others in supporting its mission.

The group is working toward a presentation to the City Council and a proclamation by the mayor.

The public is invited to the next committee meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, July 7. For details, including location, e-mail Ann Matlack at amatlack@ci.rockland.me.us.

U.S. Coast Guard Seaman Jessica Marcy of Woodstock, Conn., polishes the metal on the Rockland Station’s 47-foot lifeboat in July 2005.