NAV EX 3rd QTR. 2017 NavEx 3rd Qtr 2017 - FINAL Draft | Page 21

Coast Guard City Celebrates...
of the Coast Guard
Lauren Steenson, USCG Aux
fire in 1871. However, Lake Michigan storms created
havoc for boats and their crews and dozens of them
are now resting on the lake bottom including the
Rouse Simmons, known as the Christmas Tree Ship.
1871 was also the year that a group of volunteers got
together to form a life saving team to rescue mariners
at sea and later, by an Act of Congress, it became the
Life Saving Service. In 1915 Congress combined the
Life Saving Service with the Revenue Service which
OR express
was authorized in 1790 and created the modern day
Coast Guard. This brings us back to Grand Haven
which was the first Coast Guard City USA, this year
celebrating the 227th anniversary of the Coast Guard.
The city’s residents welcome over 300,000 visitors
each year to the Coast Guard festival. It’s usually held
during the first week of August and planners schedule
numerous activities during the week in honor of
the Coast Guard. 2017 was no exception. Some of
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