Since August 4, 1790, the Coast Guard has stood vigilant watch over Americas shores. The noble deeds of this countrys oldest seagoing service have, for 216 years, served a most noble cause.
This was readily apparent over the last year as the Coast Guard, with its core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty, contributed significantly to the safety and security of our Nation. In the last year, the Coast Guard removed an all-time maritime record 338,000 pounds of cocaine and over 9,076 pounds of marijuana, interdicted 9,500 undocumented migrants attempting to enter the country illegally by sea, conducted more than 268,000 port security patrols and more than 25,000 security boardings, and saved the lives of nearly 6,000 mariners in distress. In the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Coast Guard embodied the charge of its motto Semper Paratus -- Always Prepared -- by helping to save the lives of over 33,000 hurricane victims in what was the largest search and rescue mission in U.S. history.
Coast Guard personnel have demonstrated superior mission execution across the full spectrum of operations and they continue to showcase the qualities that make them the worlds best coast guard. In doing so they have reinforced our countrys confidence in the Department of Homeland Security.
I am proud and humbled to serve as their service secretary and pleased to extend my best wishes to Admiral Thad Allen and to all the men and women in the Coast Guard on this, their services 216th birthday.
Thanks to the Coast Guard for being Semper Paratus and for their unwavering dedication to duty, tremendous sacrifices, and untiring service to America.
This was readily apparent over the last year as the Coast Guard, with its core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty, contributed significantly to the safety and security of our Nation. In the last year, the Coast Guard removed an all-time maritime record 338,000 pounds of cocaine and over 9,076 pounds of marijuana, interdicted 9,500 undocumented migrants attempting to enter the country illegally by sea, conducted more than 268,000 port security patrols and more than 25,000 security boardings, and saved the lives of nearly 6,000 mariners in distress. In the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Coast Guard embodied the charge of its motto Semper Paratus -- Always Prepared -- by helping to save the lives of over 33,000 hurricane victims in what was the largest search and rescue mission in U.S. history.
Coast Guard personnel have demonstrated superior mission execution across the full spectrum of operations and they continue to showcase the qualities that make them the worlds best coast guard. In doing so they have reinforced our countrys confidence in the Department of Homeland Security.
I am proud and humbled to serve as their service secretary and pleased to extend my best wishes to Admiral Thad Allen and to all the men and women in the Coast Guard on this, their services 216th birthday.
Thanks to the Coast Guard for being Semper Paratus and for their unwavering dedication to duty, tremendous sacrifices, and untiring service to America.
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