USCG Celebrates 209th Anniversary

Originally formed as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790, the USCG, which celebrated its 209th year anniversary in August, has grown to include other federal agencies including the U.S. Life-saving Service in 1915, the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1939 and the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection Service in 1942. As a result, the missions of the modern-day USCG include safety of life at sea, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, waterways management, and national defense. Therefore, the USCG is truly a multi-missioned maritime service. Recently, the USCG was authorized a battle streamer for the Maritime Defense of the New Republic. This battle streamer is the thirty-fourth affixed to the USCG standard and is the only national battle streamer awarded exclusively to the USCG. It commemorates service form 1790 to 1797 when the Revenue Cutter Service was the nation's only maritime service.