ALCOAST 183/19 - MAY 2019 MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE

R 241355 MAY 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01000//
ALCOAST 183/19
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ:  MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE
1. Memorial Day is the day we remember the sacrifice of our fellow Coast Guard men and women,
as well as that of our brothers and sisters in arms from the United States Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force, who gave their lives in service to our Nation. They are the foundation
of our freedoms. We should all take time today to pay tribute to these heroes, past and present,
who stood up, raised their right hand and swore an oath to defend this great nation, defend
people they have never met, defend our values and our Constitution. For there is nothing more
noble than a man or woman who willingly steps toward danger and risks everything for their
fellow countrymen. Their service is part of our heritage.
2. For more than 228 years, the Coast Guard has stood Semper Paratus - Always Ready. As one of
the of the Nation’s five armed forces, the United States Coast Guard has served in or supported
every major American military conflict since the Constitution was ratified. And today, we
continue to operate on the front lines every day across the globe.
3. Last September we commemorated the 100th Anniversary of USS TAMPA’s tragic sinking, and it
is all the more appropriate to honor the sacrifices of her crew today. TAMPA was assigned
convoy duty between Gibraltar and the British Isles during World War I and carried out the
missions of a combat ship, protecting merchant vessels and hunting submarines in the North
Atlantic. Today I had the honor of awarding Purple Heart medals to the descendants of 10
crewmembers who served aboard TAMPA on that fateful day over 100 years ago. This combat
decoration is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded or killed in action. Each
of TAMPA’s Coast Guard crewmembers, 111 names, have been engraved on the newly-created Purple
Heart Wall of Honor. The wall will memorialize nearly 2,000 brave Coast Guard men and women who
have been awarded Purple Hearts, and will be proudly displayed at our Coast Guard Headquarters.
4. The meaning of our heroes’ sacrifice does not abate over time. We pay tribute today, but
honor them every day through continued service to our great Nation. Thank you, and your
families, for standing the watch. And thank you for honoring the sacrifice and service of all
of our Armed Forces this Memorial Day. Our heroes’ legacy is carried on by our Coast Guard
men and women who proudly serve around the world with the same commitment, honor, and tenacity
of those who have passed before us.
5. Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant, sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.