R 022134Z AUG 07 ZUI ASN-A00214000034 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALLHANDS
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UNCLAS //N01000//
SUBJ:  COAST GUARD DAY
1.  AUGUST 4TH MARKS THE 217TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST
GUARD.  AS AMERICA'S LIFESAVERS AND GUARDIANS OF THE SEAS, COAST
GUARD MEN AND WOMEN HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO SERVING OUR NATION
AND ITS PEOPLE WITH HONOR, RESPECT AND DEVOTION TO DUTY FOR MORE
THAN TWO CENTURIES.  THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE A REMARKABLE MILESTONE
IN OUR HISTORY.  THE COAST GUARD HAS SAVED MORE THAN ONE MILLION
LIVES SINCE 1790.  WHAT COULD BE A GREATER CALLING THAN TO SAVE
LIVES?  NO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY DOES WHAT WE DO, AND NO OTHER
SERVICE HAS SUCH A BROAD ARRAY OF MISSIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT TOUCH THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE, ALL ACROSS AMERICA, AND TO
THE FARTHEST REACHES OF THE GLOBE.
2.  SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR NATION WHEN WE BRAVED THE SURF
IN WOODEN BOATS, THE COAST GUARD HAS BEEN THERE.  THROUGH ELEVEN
WARS, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MOST HORRIFIC TERRORIST ATTACKS TO
HIT U.S. SOIL, AND IN RESPONSE TO DEVASTATING NATURAL DISASTERS, WE
HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEEDED US MOST.
IT WAS 70 YEARS AGO, IN FACT, THAT THE COAST GUARD RESCUED A TOTAL
OF 43,853 PEOPLE AND 11,313 HEADS OF LIVESTOCK DURING THE 1937
MISSISSIPPI FLOOD, ECLIPSING THE NUMBER OF LIVES SAVED IN OUR MOST
RECENT HURRICANE KATRINA OPERATIONS.
3.  THIS YEAR ALSO MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR AND THE 100TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.  FOR THE COAST
GUARD AND THE NATION, THE ARCTIC REPRESENTS A NEW FRONTIER WITH NEW
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.  IT WILL BE YOUR COURAGE, YOUR
COMMITMENT, AND OUR CORE VALUES, THAT WILL GUIDE US AS WE PLOT A
SAFE COURSE THROUGH THE UNCHARTED WATERS THAT LAY AHEAD FAR INTO
THE 21ST CENTURY.
4.  TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY, TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK
ABOUT WHY YOU SERVE, AND HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE THESE
EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS POSSIBLE.  WHETHER YOU ARE ON PATROL
IN THE FLORIDA STRAITS, RESPONDING TO A FISHING VESSEL GROUNDING IN
ALASKA, OR PREPARING FOR DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHWEST ASIA IN SUPPORT OF
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, YOU ARE THE REASON FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL
REPUTATION.  YOU PROVIDE THIS COUNTRY WITH THE SAFETY, SECURITY,
AND STEWARDSHIP OF OUR OCEANS DEMANDED IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME AND AN
OFTEN DANGEROUS WORLD.  WHEREVER YOU ARE STATIONED, WHATEVER JOBS
YOU DO, AND WHATEVER MISSIONS YOU EXECUTE OR SUPPORT, YOU ARE VITAL
TO OUR SUCCESS AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.  EVERY MEMBER OF THE COAST
GUARD IS A LIFESAVER.
5.  TO OUR ENTIRE ACTIVE, RESERVE, AUXILIARY, CIVILIAN AND RETIRED
WORKFORCE AND YOUR FAMILIES, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.  I WISH
YOU A HAPPY AND SAFE 217TH BIRTHDAY!
6.  SEMPER PARATUS!
7.  ADM THAD ALLEN SENDS.
8.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
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