Patriotic Peachy: Coast Guard’s 220th Anniversary
The U.S. Coast Guard honored its 220th Anniversary at Federal Hall last week, courtesy of the U.S. Park Service, custodian of this most historic of buildings.
The connection between the Coast Guard and New York City is as old as the Coast Guard itself. The service’s Founding Father is Alexander Hamilton, one of the nation’s Founding Fathers and an influential figure in the creation of the U.S. Constitution and our system of government. In 1790, Hamilton called for the establishment of a revenue cutter service and the Coast Guard was born.
Since then, the city has occupied a place of honor in Coast Guard history and the Coast Guard has played a role in New York City history. Since 9/11, the partnership between the Coast Guard and New York City has been even stronger. Together with fellow first responders in federal, state and city law enforcement, the Coast Guard shares the responsibility of keeping New York City safe from all enemies foreign and domestic.
There is no more important mission for the Coast Guard than the security of our nation’s ports and waterways. The port of New York is arguably our most vital port and unarguably the port most likely to be a target for those who wish us harm.
It is against the backdrop of this all important mission that the Coast Guard observes 220 years of service to the United States. No spot could be more appropriate than Federal Hall, the nation’s first capitol and within whose walls Alexander Hamilton conducted the nation’s business.
The ceremony at Federal Hall coincides with a unique art exhibition of 41 original art works by noted artists, including several from New York. The art works are mounted on easels and are arranged on Federal Hall’s ground floor rotunda. The celebration included: the Brass Quintet from the U.S. Coast Guard Band, Art program docent Karen Loew, a noted New York City artist, opened the program, Chief Warrant Officer Raymond Pagan, US Coast Guard, gave a presentation on the link between the Coast Guard and Alexander Hamilton, Upcoming Mover and Shaker Captain Linda Fagan, Captain of the Port of New York and Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard forces in New York and northern New Jersey, gave a presentation on the historic and current ties between New York City and the Coast Guard and the role that the unique Coast Guard Art Program plays in the service, and Karen Loew concluded the ceremony.
