| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard First District |
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| News Release |
Date: August 4, 2009 |
| Happy 219th birthday U.S. Coast Guard |
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Throughout history, Coast Guard men and women have been at the forefront of increasing the safety, security and prosperity for the nation, technological innovations and management improvements. Today’s Coast Guard employees live that heritage as they improve safety over expanding maritime commerce, protect against new threats to security, ensure prosperity of our maritime nation by aiding commerce and build a Coast Guard for the 21st Century. The Coast Guard, which traces its founding to Aug. 4, 1790, is a multi-mission, maritime, military service and the smallest of the five Armed Services. The Coast Guard began when the first Congress authorized the construction of 10 vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of federal revenue. The first vessel, the Revenue Cutter Massachusetts, was built in The service received its present name in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service to form a single maritime service dedicated to the safety of life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. Nearly 42,000 active duty, 7,484 reserve, 7,659 civilian and 29,000 auxiliary personnel use 247 cutters, 1,850 boats and 204 aircraft to save lives, protect property, ensure the prosperity of our maritime nation, facilitate maritime commerce and protect our nation against all hazards and all threats. |
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