The Veterans Breakfast Club proudly celebrates the U.S. Coast Guard’s 235th birthday with a special 90-minute livestream event on Monday, August 4 at 7:00pm ET. Join us as we talk with Coast Guard veterans about what makes their service so distinct—and so essential to the nation’s security and safety.

Founded on August 4, 1790, the Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service in the United States. Unlike other branches, the USCG has a dual mission: military operations during wartime and law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime safety during peacetime. It is the only military branch that operates under the Department of Homeland Security (except during wartime, when it may transfer to the Department of the Navy).

What sets the Coast Guard apart?

Maritime law enforcement: The Coast Guard has the authority to board, search, seize, and arrest vessels suspected of violating federal law.

Search and rescue operations: From hurricanes to sinking ships, the Coast Guard is the first call in times of maritime crisis.

Icebreaking and navigation aid: Coasties operate in Arctic and Great Lakes regions to maintain critical shipping lanes and place navigational buoys.

Drug and migrant interdiction: They play a front-line role in combating illegal trafficking on the high seas.

In this special birthday celebration, we’ll hear from Coast Guard veterans who served aboard cutters, on coastal patrol, in aviation, and at isolated duty stations. They’ll share stories of adventure, service, and resilience—from intercepting narco-subs in the Caribbean to medevac missions in the Bering Sea.

We’ll explore what it means to be “Always Ready”—Semper Paratus—and why Coast Guard veterans are proud to serve in a branch that blends military rigor with humanitarian urgency.

Help us mark this important anniversary by honoring the stories of those who serve in America’s maritime guardian force.

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We’re grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!