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Celebrate America's Oldest Maritime Defenders on August 4! Thursday, September 8th, 4:00 PM
Happy Birthday Coast Guard - American's Oldest Naval Defense System!

College Station, United States - September 8, 2022 / Museum of the American G.I. /

Of all the branches of the U.S. military that are recognized publicly and in history museums, the Coast Guard is often overlooked as actually being a military service.

Established in 1790, many may not realize until learning about it in a military history museum that the Coast Guard is America’s oldest maritime force, even older than the U.S. Navy established in 1798 by Congress.

As the birth of this federal military service comes around on August 4th, Americans can learn more about it with a visit to a living history museum offering displays and information about the Coast Guard.

The Birth of the Revenue Cutter Service

One of the reasons why many people do not realize the Coast Guard is as old as it is related to its original name, the Revenue Cutter Service also known as the Revenue Marine.

This was the name given to the fleet of ships authorized by Congress and signed into law by President George Washington on August 7, 1790, and given the mission of preventing smuggling and enforcing federal trade as well as tariff laws along America’s coastlines.

Congress initially ordered the construction of ten small, fast cutter vessels to patrol the eastern shores to enforce these laws, but the fleet quickly grew to include many more.

Official Renaming to the Coast Guard

From the days of Washington’s Revenue Cutter Service to modern times, the duties carried out by this service grew in leaps and bounds.

No longer just for patrolling smugglers, the Service began taking on humanitarian missions along with a different maritime service, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, as well as providing additional military support up until its name was changed in 1915.

To bring both maritime services under the same order and give all vessels a mission of protecting both the law and the people, the two groups were merged and renamed the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Grows

The Coast Guard has continuously grown in size and duties since its official naming in 1915.

Since then, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was put under Coast Guard control in 1939 as was the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation in 1946.

In 1967, the Coast Guard as a branch of the military was transferred to the Department of Transportation; however, in 2003, it was once again transferred back to more military control under the Department of Homeland Security where it is today.

Today’s Modern Day Coast Guard

Although the Coast Guard is currently considered a federal agency of the Department of Homeland Security, it remains one of the five branches of the U.S. military service.

It serves as a protector of human and marine life as well as maritime law during peacetime and stands ready to guard America’s coastlines plus assist the Navy during times of conflict.

Celebrate the U.S. Coast Guard At A Military History Museum

As with all other branches of America’s military forces, the beginnings of the Coast Guard were humble and basic, growing into a military and federal agency that saves lives and protects our sea borders today.

The official birthday of the Coast Guard on August 4th presents another wonderful reason to visit a history museum to learn more about its beginnings or see memorabilia and other military displays at a living history museum like the Museum of the American G.I.

About

If interested in living history museums, visit the Museum of the American G.I. to learn more about the military history of our great nation with its restored military vehicles and many other exhibits.

With a commitment to Preserve the Past, Honor the Veterans, and Educate Future Generations, visit the Museum of the American G.I. to see history come alive - call (979) 690-0501 for more information!

Contact Information:

Museum of the American G.I.

P.O. Box 9599 College Station TX 77842 United States
College Station, TX 77842
United States

Leisha Mullins
https://americangimuseum.org/

Original Source: https://americangimuseum.org/celebrate-americas-oldest-maritime-defenders-on-august-4/

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