KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The more than 1.6 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliary congratulate the U.S. Coast Guard on its 229 years of service and bravery defending our great nation.
Originally established as the Revenue Service on Aug. 4, 1790, by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the role of today’s Coast Guard has grown far beyond collecting customs duties at seaports across the country. In 1915, the modern Coast Guard was formed and has been involved in every U.S. conflict since.
The Coast Guard is America’s oldest continuous maritime service, and it is comprised of nearly 41,000 active-duty personnel, 7,000 reservists, 8,577 civilian employees, and 31,000 Coast Guard Auxiliary members.
Together, the VFW and its Auxiliary wish all our past and present Coast Guardsmen a very happy 229th birthday and we thank you for your continued dedication to protecting our nation and its borders.