LOUISVILLE - U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley will celebrate on August 4 the service's 217th birthday as America's oldest continuous sea-going service.

Since its inception in 1790, the men and women of "America's Lifesavers," the Coast Guard, have saved more than 1 million lives. In 2006 alone, the men and women of Sector Ohio Valley assisted 560 persons and over $800 million in property. Moreover, that same year the Sector conducted 331 casualty investigations, 1,395 vessel inspections, 448 facility inspections, and 122 pollution responses.

The Coast Guard traces its roots in Louisville back to 1852 with the assignment of the first local Supervisory Inspector of the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service.  Today the operational missions of Sector Ohio Valley include maritime homeland security, search and rescue, marine safety, law enforcement, and waterways management.

As part of the Department of Homeland Security, the 443 active duty and reserve personnel assigned to Sector Ohio Valley are vital in protecting the 8,300 miles of inland navigable waterways located within the Sector's area of responsibility, which encompasses all or part of 10 states throughout the heartland of America, stretching from Pittsburgh, PA to Nashville, TN.

The Coast Guard has protected the nation throughout its long history, serving proudly in all of conflicts involving our Nation. The full commitment and involvement in preserving our National Security continues to this day.