Happy Coast Guard Day!


We are a Coast Guard family, and today is the 224th birthday of the United States Coast Guard. The service has been around since 1790.

So here are the top ten things about the Coast Guard you don't often read or hear about:

10. Most Coast Guard units will have a birthday party today.

  9. Every summer, Grand Haven, Michigan, celebrates the Coast Guard with a weeklong Coast Guard Festival.

  8. Coasties save an average of 10 lives every day. And perform more than 100 other rescues. Every. Single. Day.

  7. As important as saving lives is, it's not the only function performed by the Coast Guard.

  6. The Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that also has law enforcement authority.

  5. And many Coast Guard missions are highly sensitive in nature.

  4. USCG has fewer active duty members than NYPD has officers ... and patrols a LOT more space.

  3. U.S. Coasties perform their duties all around the world.

  2. Coasties aboard the icebreaker USCGC Northwind played the first ever golf tournament in Antarctica.

And the #1 thing about the Coast Guard you don't often read or hear about:

  1. Some cutters and shore units have mascots ... from a legendary dog named Sinbad to a penguin and even a seal!

Happy Birthday, U.S. Coast Guard!

Some of the above facts were gathered here:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/theweatherchannel/13-awesome-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-coast
http://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/Mascots.asp
http://www.gocoastguard.com/
http://www.coastguardfest.org/



This month in my website contest at 
I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner.
Remember, you can answer with one word
or a little story – the choice is yours.

AND

This week only, the Kindle version of my debut novel,
is on sale at Amazon for only $0.99
Get your copy now!

I would appreciate any tweets or Facebook mentions you would like to give. Thanks in advance for any sharing love :)
Here's a version you can copy and paste:


This week only, the Kindle version of Carol Kilgore's In Name Only is on sale at Amazon for only $0.99

AND

This week I'm guest blogging with 
I'm talking a little bit about the Texas Coastal Bend - 
maybe with a photo or two :)




Comments

224 years - that's amazing. They certainly do a lot more than most realize. And they are very busy after a hurricane.
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard...long may they float.
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Happy birthday to our Coast Guard.
Ava Quinn said…
My father-in-law served in the Coast Guard. Great facts! And I sent out a tweet! :) Heading over to Rula's.
Mason Canyon said…
Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard. I had no idea the Coast Guard had been in operation that long. WOW. Interesting facts, thanks for sharing. We should all know more about those who service to keep us safe.
Bish Denham said…
I have a lot of respect for the CG. Having grown up in the Caribbean their presence is comforting.
Rula Sinara said…
Very cool facts! Off to tweet this!
Murees Dupè said…
Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard. What a great organization.
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - Most people would be amazed at all the Coast Guard does.

Delores - I second that!

Diane - ...and many more :)

Ava - Cool! And thanks!!

Mason - The Coast Guard is very interesting.

Bish - Always Ready!

Rula - Thank you!
Carol Kilgore said…
Murees - We crossed :) Coasties are great!
Julie Flanders said…
Love the Coast Guard mascots, how fun.

Off to tweet about your sale now.
Happy birthday to the Coast Guard, from a guy who can't swim and may very well one day need their services!
Linda G. said…
Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard! :)
Jan Christensen said…
Love to read facts like these, Carol Happy birthday to the Coast Guard!
Carol Kilgore said…
Julie - Coasties are fun like that :)

Beer - Always wear a PFD!

Linda - Raise your glass in a toast :)

Jan - I'm kind of a trivia nerd :)
Unknown said…
Cool facts about the USCG. I didn't know they saved so many lives. And neat-o about the mascot.
Happy Coast Guard Day! What a great service they do.

Thanks for the Coast Guard facts. I didn't know any of it.
Luanne G. Smith said…
Happy Coast Guard Day from a landlocked Colorado girl. :D
Thank you for singing the song of these unsung heroes.
Carol Kilgore said…
Glad y'all like the fun facts. Coasties are often unsung heroes. They need a cheerleading squad LOL!
J.L. Campbell said…
Interesting information. Didn't realize the coast guard was that old in term so of existence.
Shelley Munro said…
The Coast Guard do an amazing job. Happy birthday!
VR Barkowski said…
Fascinating facts, Carol. As a resident of a coastal community, I'm glad to know the UCSG is out there saving lives.

Those mascots should have a web page. :)

Happy 234th birthday, Coasties! You wear your years well.

VR Barkowski
I have never heard of coast guard day, I found this an interesting read
Janie Junebug said…
Happy Birthday, Coast Guard! Don't get sea sick.

Love,
Janie
Helena said…
A big honkin' Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard! What an honorable, extraordinary branch of service you lovely the coasties are!
I have such admiration and respect for the Coast Guard and all that they do.
Carol Kilgore said…
We held our own Coast Guard Birthday Party with a few friends. This one was Texas Style with beer and barbeque :)

I meant to take photos, but fun won out, and I forgot about it until this morning LOL!
cleemckenzie said…
Happy Coast Guard Day to all. I'll try to get into your contest and write something. My writer's ink almost depleted, but I'm sure I can come up with something.

Glad to Tweet about your Kindle version. Will do something this afternoon when all Tweeps are on their decks. Hey, that ties in with Coast Guard Day. :-)
Unknown said…
I didn't realize they had been around that long.
Happy Birthday, U.S. Coast Guard!
Carol Kilgore said…
Lee - Thanks!

David - Longer than the Navy.
Slamdunk said…
Yes, an unrecognized but valuable branch of the service for citizens. Thanks for helping us to understand what they do. Our neighbor is retired and career Coast Guard. He has the greatest stories.

In addition to your list, only one member of the Coast Guard has received a Congressional Medal of Honor: Douglas Munro.

Munro's story is nothing short of inspiring: Freedom is not Free.
Interesting facts. I didn't realize the Coast Guard had been around for that many years. (I hope you had cake in honor of its birthday!) I also didn't realize a member of the Coast Guard received a Medal of Honor.
Carol Kilgore said…
Slamdunk - I felt if I included Munro, I should have included a few others - not Medal of Honor winners, but equally heroic. I was afraid I would omit someone.

Susan - Yessiree. The Navy named a ship after Munro. I think it was a destroyer escort, but I'm not certain.
Happy birthday to the Coast Guard! Thanks for all you do!

Julie
Crystal Collier said…
Awesome facts. I had no idea, but now I want to go out and give those guys a hug. =)

Off to tweet!
Michael Di Gesu said…
Fantastic! Great facts about the coastguard....

ENJOY the celebration!!!!
Carol Kilgore said…
Coasties are having a whole Birthday Week!
Mark said…
Very cool, go Coast Guard!
Melissa said…
I'm glad you posted this. It's sad we don't hear more about the Coast Guard. They obviously do an incredible job. Kudos! And Happy Birthday.
H. R. Sinclair said…
Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard!
Anonymous said…
Interesting facts and it's great they're being celebrated. :)
Stina said…
Wow. I didn't realize they were that old. They've come a long way since then. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Oldies but goodies - and they still know how to have a great time!
224 years? That's a long, long time!
From your info posted above, I can see that they really do a lot of good work.
Enjoy the celebration!
Anonymous said…
Who in your family serves in the Coast Guard? A penguin mascot -- I need one of those.
Carol Kilgore said…
Milo - That would be Live-In Handyman :)

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