BOSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve will be celebrating 75 years of serving the United States Friday.
The theme for this anniversary is "Thank You," as the organization would like to thank its members, and the American public for their continued faith and support.
More than 1,100 First Coast Guard District reservists serve alongside their active duty counterparts to support 76 Coast Guard units in a region spanning all six New England states, parts of New York, including New York City, and south to Toms River, New Jersey.
Following the conclusion of World War II, the first organized Coast Guard Reserve unit was formed in Boston in October 1950, setting the framework of today’s Coast Guard Reserve.
From the inception of the Coast Guard Reserve, First District reservists have deployed to serve in every major conflict America has faced.
From the beaches of France and Iwo Jima in World War II, surge operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the Haitian Earthquake, both in 2010, the Coast Guard Reserve has always been ready and answered the call.
First District reservists have answered the call to serve locally during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York, Super Storm Sandy in 2012, and the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013.
"I cannot applaud enough the great work our reservists continually perform, time and time again since 1941," said Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, 25th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
