Coast Guard City

Children wave the flag of the United States Coast Guard during the Grand Haven, Michigan Coast Guard Festival Parade in 2013. In 1998 Grand Haven became the first city designated a "Coast Guard City."

A Coast Guard City is a United States municipality designated as such by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on application of the local civilian government. It is an honorary designation intended to recognize communities of special importance to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Criteria

Designation as a Coast Guard City is made by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on advise of a review board and upon application by a municipal government.[1][2] According to the U.S. Coast Guard, applications are expected to demonstrate an applicant jurisdiction's ability to meet a multi-part criteria that can include: erection of monuments and memorials to the Coast Guard, organization of civic celebrations on the anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Coast Guard, offer of special recognition and merchandise discounts to Coast Guard personnel by the local business community, providing support to local U.S. Coast Guard Morale, Welfare and Recreation initiatives.[3][4]

Designation as a Coast Guard City is for a five-year period, but can be renewed indefinitely conditioned on the city continuing to meet the criteria.[3]

History

A sign in Astoria, Oregon designating that city as a "Coast Guard City."

Background

The Coast Guard City program was established by the United States Congress in 1998 to recognize cities where military assets of the United States Coast Guard are located and which demonstrate support to Coast Guard personnel stationed there.[5] The first city so designated was Grand Haven, Michigan.[6][7]

As of 2015, 18 cities had been designated as "Coast Guard Cities."[8]

Legislation

The authorizing legislation for the Coast Guard City program provides that:[9]

The Commandant of the Coast Guard may recognize the community of Grand Haven, Michigan, as "Coast Guard City, USA". If the Commandant desires to recognize any other community in the same manner or any other community requests such recognition from the Coast Guard, the Commandant shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 90 days prior to approving such recognition.

List of Coast Guard Cities

City name State Date designated
Grand Haven[10] Michigan November 13, 1998
Eureka[10] California June 3, 2000
Mobile[10] Alabama July 4, 2002
Wilmington[10] North Carolina July 25, 2003
Newport[10] Oregon March 28, 2005
Alameda[10] California April 14, 2006
Kodiak[10] Alaska September 15, 2007
Rockland[10] Maine June 16, 2008
Portsmouth[10] Virginia November 17, 2009
Traverse City[10] Michigan April 7, 2010
Astoria[10] Oregon May 1, 2010
Sitka[10] Alaska February 14, 2011
Clearwater[10] Florida December 23, 2011
Newburyport[10] Massachusetts December 23, 2011
Sturgeon Bay[10] Wisconsin January 23, 2014
Camden County[10] Georgia January 23, 2014
Elizabeth City[11] North Carolina May 29, 2015
New London[12] Connecticut July 14, 2015

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Coast Guard City Program". thecityofnewport.net. City of Newport. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Coast Guard Cities". military.com. military.com. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Frequently Asked Questions". uscg.mil. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Lundstrom, Jim (9 May 2014). "City Celebrates Coast Guard Designation". Peninsula Pulse. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Degener, Richard (22 July 2013). "Cape May mayor wants 'Coast Guard Community' designation for town". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival". Pure Michigan. Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "About us". coastguardfest.org. Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Bergman, Julia (14 July 2015). "New London designated as a 'Coast Guard City'". The Day (New London). Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Public Law 105–383—Nov. 13, 1998" (PDF). U.S. Congress. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Coast Guard Cities". uscg.mil. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Elizabeth City to be named a Coast Guard City". uscgnews.com. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Eagle Docks, New London Celebrates Designation as Coast Guard City". military.com. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
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