Happy Birthday Coast Guard! Hope You Have a “Mari” Day!

By Josh Loftis
The United States Coast Guard celebrates its birthday this month and we thought we’d share a few facts about it.

The United States Coast Guard was created on August 4, 1790 by Congress at the request of Alexander Hamilton. At the time, Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury, and the United States Coast Guard (known then as The U.S. Revenue Cutter Service) was purposed with collecting customs duties in our nation’s seaports.

Although the Coast Guard is its own branch of the Uniformed Services of the United States, during peacetime they operate under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard transfers under the U.S. Navy in times of war. The Coast Guard has been “activated” twice – in 1917 and in 1941.

Although the U.S. Coast Guard records the fewest number of personnel, it maintains approximately 240 patrol ships, tenders, tugs and icebreakers; around 1650 smaller boats; and about 200 aerial machines like helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

The Coast Guard is tasked with three basic roles:

• Maritime Safety
• Maritime Security
• Maritime Stewardship

The U.S. Coast Guard is unique with every active and reserved commissioned officer and all warrant and petty officers given authority to act as federal customs officers with law enforcement authority.

The United States Coast Guard has participated in every major U. S. conflict since 1790. To include Omaha Beach on D-Day, transporting groups during Vietnam, several missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan; it continues to be an invaluable asset to the Global War on Terror.

We thank all members and support staff of the United States Coast Guard for keeping our shores safe and secure.

Other significant dates to remember during the month of August are:

August 7 – Purple Heart Day

August 16 – National Airborne Day

August 29 – Marine Corps Reserves Birthday