Governor Proclaims United States Coast Guard Birthday 2023

WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard has a long and proud history of service to our nation, including in North Carolina, from Base Elizabeth City to other points along our coast; and

WHEREAS, the Coast Guard is dedicated to saving lives at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws; and

WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations in the federal government, and until the Navy Department was established in 1798, it served as the nation's only armed force afloat; and

WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard was established on August 4, 1790, when Congress authorized the formation of ten vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws to prevent smuggling; until the establishment of the United States Navy in 1798, the Coast Guard also maintained maritime navigational aids, including the nation's lighthouses, and inspected and licensed ships; and

WHEREAS, initially known as the Revenue Marine and Revenue Cutter Service, the name was changed in 1915 to the United States Coast Guard; and

WHEREAS, the Coast Guard's approximately 40,500 members ensure our nation's maritime safety, and have served proudly in every one of our nation's conflicts; and

WHEREAS, since 2003, the Coast Guard has operated as part of the Department of Homeland Security, serving as the nation's front-line agency for enforcing the nation's laws at sea, saving lives, protecting the marine environment, and guarding the nation's vast coastline and ports;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim August 4, 2023, as “UNITED STATES COAST GUARD BIRTHDAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.