Sam Spade's San Francisco

Semper Paratus (Latin: "always ready" was created by Alexander Hamilton as the motto of the United States Revenue Cutter Service and hence it is the motto of the United States Coast Guard today.)

The birth date of the United States Coast Guard is August 4, 1790. Tomorrow will be the 219th birthday of the service.

The roots of the United States Coast Guard begin with Alexander Hamilton. He was our first Secretary of the Treasury, a Founding Father and Delegate of the Constitutional Convention, the leading economist of the day, one of America's first constitutional lawyers, co-author of the Federalist Papers (along with John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States) and he was one of our first officers in the American Militia, which was later to be re-named, the United States Army. He is also celebrated widely throughout the gay community as one of our most illustrious members in 18th Century American politics. There were others.

San Francisco's own Post 448 of the American Legion, the nation's first gay post of military veterans and of which I am a member, is officially the "Alexander Hamilton Post 448 of the American Legion".

The original name of the Coast Guard was the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS) . It was established August 4, 1790 to enforce our new nation's ability to collect taxes - and thus keep this fledgling nation alive. The Revenue Cutter Service also substituted as the only naval force available to the United States for defense. For the first eight years of this nation's life - the toughest, most critical and precarious years - the Revenue Cutter Service was all this nation had - and they completed the mission flawlessly. Today, one of the nicknames of our Coast Guard is "First Fleet".

The name Revenue Cutter Service continued until 1915 when the name was officially changed. The United States Life Saving Service (USLSS), our nation's coastal patrol, was combined with the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS), to produce the new United States Coast Guard (USCG).

Fact: While USCG is always and at all times a branch of our military, it is also always and at all times this nations primary maritime law enforcement agency. USCG is unique in this way. Members of our Coast Guard do two jobs at the same time - and they do them both flawlessly - as they have from the beginning.

USCG is very close to the heart of the City of San Francisco and its citizens - people like me whose family history in this City dates back to the mid 19th Century. There are a multitude of reasons, both current and historic, that weave a pattern of connection so tightly, that San Francisco is and will forever be a part of the fabric of the United States Coast Guard.

So on this 219th Birthday of our First Fleet ... thank you ... and a very happy birthday to you all!

The United States Coast Guard is the emblem of military and law enforcement excellence throughout the world, not because they chose to be, but because of the quality of service they have given to the American people.

Resources:
Coast Guard in San Francisco is Armed and Always Ready to Rock & Roll!
USCG Academy offers tuition-free college - apply online
USCG Careers
USCG Facts, Links, Photos
Follow the USCG on Twitter at @
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