Service of the Coast Guard

American Minute from William J. Federer

"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." Thus went the original anthem of the US Coast Guard, which was established AUGUST 4, 1790, when Congress authorized ten boats to be built for the Revenue Marine.

Four years later they were charged with stopping slave-traders from bringing new slaves from Africa. The U.S. Coast Guard freed almost 500 slaves.

President Herbert Hoover stated December 27, 1929: "A further proposal...is the definite expansion of the Coast Guard...in the matter of border patrol."

On June 1, 1945, President Truman listed casualties of the Battle of Okinawa: "Navy and Coast Guard losses were 4,729 killed and 4,640 wounded."

At the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, September 20, 1952, Truman stated: "I was just reading...about the Coast Guard's icebreaker that has been closer to the North Pole than any other ship in delivering food and supplies to a station up there...That, my young friends, is what makes this country great."

At a US Coast Guard commencement, May 18, 1988, President Reagan stated: "It's our prayer to serve America in peace. It's our commitment to defend her in war."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.