Community invited to celebrate Coast Guard's 220th birthday

TRACEN Cape May, N.J.
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 23, 2010
Contact: Mrs. Tina Walker
609.898.6901

Community invited to celebrate Coast Guard's 220th birthday

CAPE MAY, N.J. - Coast Guard Training Center Cape May will celebrate the Coast Guard's 220th birthday and honor it's Coast Guard Auxiliary members on Aug. 1, 2010 at 7:40 p.m., on the training center's parade field during a sunset parade.

Sunset parades are colorful, inspiring military ceremonies featuring the recruit band, drill team, marching troops, cannon fire, and a low level fly over by a Coast Guard helicopter. They take place at sunset and were created to introduce the community to the Coast Guard's newest Guardians in training.

The United States Coast Guard, one of the country's five armed services, is a unique agency of the federal government. Its history began on Aug. 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established on June 23, 1939 by an act of Congress as the United States Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary on February 19, 1941. The Auxiliary is an incorporated, civilian volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard.

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.