Governor Proclaims Recognition of the US Life-Saving Service 150th Anniversary

IN RECOGNITION OF

THE US LIFE-SAVING SERVICE 150^TH ANNIVERSARY

2024

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, in 1874, funds authorized by the US Congress were used to build seven Life-Saving Stations along the coast of North Carolina, the first of which to be equipped, staffed, and commissioned was the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe; and

WHEREAS, construction of all seven stations--Chicamacomico, Jones Hill, Caffey's Inlet, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Bodie Island (later named Oregon Inlet), and Little Kinnakeet, completed by October 1874; and

WHEREAS, in 1878, an additional 11 stations were constructed on the coast of North Carolina--including the now famous Kill Devil Hills Life-Saving Station, whose crew members provided assistance to the Wright Brothers; and

WHEREAS, contributions of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station Keepers,an all African American crew, whose members are credited with historical rescues including the night-time rescue of the crew of the E.S. Newman during an 1896 hurricane led by Captain Richard Etheridge, the first African-American to command a Life-Saving station; and 

WHEREAS, over the course of its 44-year history in operation before being merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to become the United States Coast Guard, the United States Life-Saving Service responded to 28,121 vessels, and of 178,741 lives in peril at sea, crew members successfully saved 177,286 lives; and

WHEREAS, October 2024 is the 150^th Anniversary of the arrival of the United States Life-Saving Service to the coast of North Carolina;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 12 – 13, 2024, as “IN RECOGNITION OF THE US LIFE-SAVING SERVICE 150^TH ANNIVERSARY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

                                                                           ________________________________________

                                                                                                           Roy Cooper

                                                                                                              Governor

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.