#VeteranOfTheDay U.S. Coast Guard Veterans

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Coast Guard Veterans, who have protected our Nation’s maritime interests from Aug. 4, 1790, to today.

In honor of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 229^th birthday, Veterans of the United States Coast Guard are the #VeteranOfTheDay.

Coast Guard members—living the Semper Paratus motto, Always Ready—safeguard U.S. maritime interests by protecting those on the sea, against threats delivered by sea, and the sea itself.

The Coast Guard traces its history to Aug. 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. Until the Navy Department was established in 1798, the Coast Guard served as the nation’s only armed forces afloat.

The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the Life-Saving Service. The Nation then had a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation’s maritime laws.

In times of peace, Coast Guard members operate as part of the Department of Homeland Security, serving as the nation’s front-line agency for enforcing the nation’s laws at sea, protecting the marine environment and the nation’s vast coastline and ports, and saving life. In times of war, or at the direction of the President, Coast Guard members serve as part of the Navy Department.

Today, the Coast Guard has just over 40,000 active duty members and 7,000 Reservists, along with 8,500 civilians and 31,000 Auxiliary members. On an average day, the Coast Guard:

• conducts 45 search and rescue cases;
• saves 10 lives;
• saves over $1.2M in property;
• seizes 874 pounds of cocaine and 214 pounds of marijuana;
• conducts 57 waterborne patrols of critical maritime infrastructure;
• interdicts 17 illegal migrants;
• escorts 5 high-capacity passenger vessels;
• conducts 24 security boardings in and around U.S. ports;
• screens 360 merchant vessels for potential security threats prior to arrival in U.S. ports;
• conducts 14 fisheries conservation boardings;
• services 82 buoys and fixed aids to navigation;
• investigates 35 pollution incidents;
• completes 26 safety examinations on foreign vessels;
• conducts 105 marine inspections;
• investigates 14 marine casualties involving commercial vessels; and
• facilitates movement of $8.7B worth of goods and commodities through the Nation’s Maritime Transportation System.

Thank you for your service!

To learn more about the Coast Guard, see the following websites:

Main page: https://www.uscg.mil/

Coast Guard history: https://www.history.uscg.mil/

Notable people: https://www.history.uscg.mil/browse-by-topic/notable-people/

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Contributors:

Graphic designer: Rey Leal