COAST GUARD AUXILIARY CELEBRATES 68 YEARS OF SERVICE TO AMERICA

MIAMI - The Coast Guard Auxiliary will celebrate its 68th year of honorable service to the Coast Guard and the American people Saturday.  

Congress passed legislation in 1939 that established the Coast Guard Reserve, its volunteer civilian component, to promote boating safety and to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard.  Groups of boat owners were organized into flotillas and these into divisions within Coast Guard Districts around the country. Members initially conducted safety and security patrols and helped enforce the provisions of the 1940 Federal Boating and Espionage Acts.  Then in February 1941, a military reserve was created and the volunterr Reserve was renamed the Coast Guard Auxiliary. 

The Coast Guard Auxiliary has more than 30,000 volunteers which 5,100 of those serve within the Seventh Coast Guard District.  The Auxiliary assists the active duty and reserve Coast Guard in search and rescue/assistance missions, environmental protection, marine safety, and patrolling regatta and marine events.  It's members perform safety patrols often in conjunction with regular Coast Guard units and provides verification of private aids to navigation.

In the past six months, Auxiliarist in the Seventh District have saved 12 lives, given 9,947 vessel safety courses and examined 85 commercial fishing vessels.

"The Auxiliary is an integral part of the Coast Guard and they assist with virtually every Coast Guard mission. We couldn't do what we do without them," said Adm. Thad Allen, the commandant of the Coast Guard.   "The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides an invaluable service to our Nation. We rely on their generosity and patriotism to help keep Americans safe and secure all around the country,"

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the largest volunteer marine safety organization in the world and has fostered similar ones in foreign countries.  During its 68 years, it has lived up to its motto of- "A Proud Tradition, A Worthy Mission."

The Auxiliary has members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. To join the Coast Guard Auxiliary, call 1-877-875-6296 or visit www.cgaux.org

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.