Happy Birthday Coast Guard!

R 042300Z AUG 06 ZUI ASN-A00217000001
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N01000//
ALCOAST 403/06
SUBJ: COAST GUARD DAY
1. TODAY MARKS THE 216TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR COAST GUARD. THIS
ANNIVERSARY OFFERS US A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE OUR RICH HISTORY,
REFLECT ON OUR PAST AND FOCUS ON OUR FUTURE. THE COAST GUARD'S
UNIQUE LEGACY AS AMERICA'S LIFESAVER AND MARITIME GUARDIAN EVOLVED
FROM THE SELFLESS COURAGE AND UNFLINCHING DETERMINATION OF OUR
PREDECESSORS. IT IS IN THEIR HONOR THAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY.
2. IN 1790, CONGRESS AUTHORIZED SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
ALEXANDER HAMILTON TO BUILD A FLEET OF TEN CUTTERS TO SECURE OUR
FREEDOM AND PROTECT OUR COAST. FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, THE
REVENUE MARINE WAS THE NATION'S ONLY NAVAL FORCE. OVER TIME, IT
EVOLVED AND ACQUIRED NEW RESPONSIBILITIES TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS
OF A DEMOCRACY IN THE EARLY YEARS OF A NEW NATION.
3. THE WORLD HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE 1790 AND CONTINUES TO
CHANGE WITH EVERY DAY. THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, THE MARITIME
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT, THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT, THE
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, AND THE NATIONAL STRATEGY
FOR MARITIME SECURITY HAVE GIVEN THE COAST GUARD ADDITIONAL AREAS
OF MISSION EMPHASIS. MEETING THOSE NEW MARITIME SECURITY DEMANDS,
WHILE SUSTAINING THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC WE SERVE IN
PRESERVING OUR MARITIME SAFETY AND EXERCISING OUR MARITIME
STEWARDSHIP DUTIES, REQUIRES US TO CONTINUALLY CHALLENGE OURSELVES
AND IMPROVE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS. BY FOCUSING ON SUPERIOR
MISSION EXECUTION IN ALL THAT WE DO, OUR ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE,
CIVILIAN AND AUXILIARY MEN AND WOMEN ARE MEETING THESE CHALLENGES
HEAD ON, OFTEN TIMES IN UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS. I AM PROUD OF
THESE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS AND YOUR HARD WORK.
4. WITH THE ARRIVAL OF OUR 217TH YEAR OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE, WE
CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROMISE OF MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
AMERICA, AND EVEN MORE CHALLENGES. I REAFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO
EACH OF YOU ON THIS SPECIAL DAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR COAST GUARD MEN
AND WOMEN ARE THE MOST VERSATILE WORK FORCE IN GOVERNMENT, EQUIPPED
WITH THE MOST CAPABLE FLEET OF SHIPS, AIRCRAFT AND BOATS, ALONG
WITH THE MOST EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS THAT WILL SUPPORT THEM. WE HAVE AN
EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE AS AMERICA'S COAST GUARD. WE
WILL BUILD ON THAT LEGACY. WE WILL RISE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES
FACING US. AND WE WILL REMAIN ALWAYS READY.
5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND SEMPER PARATUS!
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
7. ADM T. W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.