Happy Coast Guard Day

Semper Paratus! ! !

Today, August 4th, is Coast Guard Day.  The following is copied from a Coast Guard source:   

"The Coast Guard celebrates its 226th birthday in August this year. The Coast Guard is one of America's five armed forces and traces its founding to Aug. 4, 1790, 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. Responsibilities added over the years included humanitarian duties such as aiding mariners in distress.
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.
The Coast Guard is a multi-mission, maritime, military service and the smallest of the five Armed Services. Its mission is to protect the public, the environment and U.S. economic interests in the nation's waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security."
That succinctly states the history of the service in which I so proudly served for nearly 21 years, and in which my youngest son has served nearly 15 years (so far).  So - Happy Coast Guard Day to all!  And a proud salute to all who serve, have served, and will serve in (what a Master Chief I served with called) "The World's Largest Coast Guard".  Semper Paratus Y'all!