Veterans Day Parade program 2013 by Signal Tribune

Veterans Day Parade magazine_Layout 1 11/11/13 10:15 AM Page 15

Coast Guard

17th Annual Veterans Day Parade G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n authorized and began the Coast Guard, then known as the “cutters,” on Aug. 4, 1790 as part of the Tariff Act. Ten vessels would enforce federal and tariff laws, and stop smuggling. As the infant nation grew, the scope of the “Revenue Cutter Service” grew. The US Coast Guard was founded then, but it was established on Jan. 28, 1915 to be an official military branch. There are 11 missions dealing with ports, waterways and coastal security, drug interdiction, aids navigation, search and rescue, living marine services, marine safety, defense readiness, migrant interdiction, marine environmental protection, ice operations and other law enforcements. There are 38,000 active-duty men and women, 8,000 Reservists, and 35,000 Auxiliary personnel who serve in a variety of job fields ranging from operation specialists and small-boat operators and maintenance specialists to electronic technicians and aviation mechanics. The Coast Guard was created after five separate federal services were combined: the U.S. Lighthouse Service, the Revenue Cutter Service, the Steamboat Inspection Service, Bureau of Navigation and the U.S. Lifesaving Service. In 1915, a congressional act combined the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service to form the Coast Guard. The Service was placed under the control of the Treasury Department until 1967, when an executive order transferred the Coast Guard to the newly formed Department of Transportation. Currently, the Coast Guard operates under the Department of homeland Security during peacetime and under the Navy during wartime, or by special presidential order. In addition to protecting our nation’s waterways, the 43,327 active-duty members of the Coast Guard perform search and rescue, law enforcement and environmental cleanup operations. The US Coast Guard Academy

A History of Our Military Branches

is a four-year service academy located in New London, Conn. Around 225 cadets graduate each year. They receive a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as an Ensign in the Coast Guard. These graduates must serve a minimum of five years on active duty. Some become Desk Watch Officers or Engineer Officers in Training. Others can be assigned directly to the Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. The Coast Guard’s Research Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) program works on more than 80 projects that support Coast Guard requirements at any given time. This program is made up of the Office of RTD&E at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, DC and the Research and Development Center (RDC) at New London, Connecticut. In 1915, a Congressional act merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the US Life-Saving Service, another government agency devoted to saving the shipwrecked, and thus made the Coast Guard. The Lighthouse Service joined the Coast Guard in 1939, and Congress moved the Commerce Department's Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard in 1946. The Coast Guard has been involved in wars such as the War of 1812, the MexicanAmerican War and the American Civil War. The last time the Coast Guard operated as a whole within the Navy was during World War II. Usually, military and combat units within the Coast Guard will operate under Navy or joint control while others remain under the Department of homeland Security.

Colors White, Coast Guard blue, Coast Guard red Motto Semper Paratus (Always Ready) Song “Semper Paratus” From North and South and East and West, The Coast Guard’s in the fight. Destroying subs and landing troops, The Axis feels our might. For we’re the first invaders, On every fighting field. Afloat, ashore, on men and Spars, You'll find the Coast Guard shield.

We’re always ready for the call, We place our trust in Thee. Through howling gale and shot and shell, To win our victory. “Semper Paratus” is our guide, Our pledge, our motto, too. We’re “Always Ready,” do or die! Aye! Coast Guard, we fight for you. From Aztec shore to Arctic zone, To Europe and Far East. The Flag is carried by our ships, In times of war and peace. And never have we struck it yet, In spite of foe-men's might, Who cheered our crews and cheered again, For showing how to fight.

November 9, 2013

Paraguay, Great Lakes or ocean’s wave, The Coast Guard fought through storms and winds To punish or to save.

Aye, we’ve been “Always Ready” To do, to fight, or die Write glory to the shield we wear In letters to the sky. To sink the foe or save the maimed Our mission and our pride We'll carry on ‘til Kingdom Come Ideals for which we’ve died.

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Surveyor and Narcissus, The Eagle and Dispatch, The Hudson and the Tampa The names are hard to match; From Barrow's shores to

We honor the men and women who have so selflessly protected our country. !"#$%&#'&())&'* !"#$%&'()(*+,-%.%/01,23'0+ ',-&.*$/-$#-$'&0$-12'*3&)*4('#*$&5*"& 678)#4&2-)5&9(7)&:&;-4<4)#$%&!7<8(4=&.-$'-">

thank you to all our Veterans.

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