Have you seen the latest Coast Guard tribute? No? Me either.
The Coast Guard isn’t into self-promotion. It is the quiet service. If the five services were a family, the Coast Guard would be the introvert. People would say, “Speak up!” or “Cat got your tongue?” when talking to him. When his brothers would whoop it up and compete for attention, he would just smile, shake his head and get back to the chores – day in and day out, without fanfare or complaint.
But in the real world, if you are in distress and need rescue, the actions of the U.S. Coast Guard speak volumes.
Today, August 4, marks the 221st birthday of the Coast Guard. Dating back to the authorization of ten ships to “enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling,” (USCG), the Coast Guard has undergone tremendous change over the last couple of decades. As the nation grew, so did the Coast Guard. It was originally known as the Revenue Service, then the Revenue Cutter Service. Soon its ranks and responsibilities increased, absorbing the duties of various maritime services – the Life Saving Service, Lighthouse Service, and the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. Eventually they all became the United States Coast Guard.
It is impossible to describe all the duties of this admired and storied armed service. Its reach is too great. But this video compilation gives you an idea of what Coastguardsmen do for the nation, day in and day out, without fanfare or complaint.
In peacetime and in war.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQlIbfiHIFA&feature=autoplay&list=PL3135AE915EA9F28B&index=4&playnext=4[/youtube]Happy Birthday, Coast Guard, and in the true sense of the words, thank you for your service.
