Portsmouth, Va. – The Coast Guard celebrated its 222nd birthday in Portsmouth at High Street Landing on Saturday.
The events included tours aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Smilax, a 175-foot construction tender homeported in Atlantic Beach, N.C., and the Queen of the Fleet; the Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Portsmouth; and small boats from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth and Aids to Navigation Team Hampton Roads.
The Queen of the Fleet is the ship with the earliest date of commission into active Coast Guard service.
Another highlight of the event was the Coast Guard’s Historic Ship’s Company, which consists of a diverse group of active duty members, auxiliarists and reservists who volunteer their time to educate people about the importance of the War of 1812 and the Revenue Cutter Service, the predecessor to the modern-day Coast Guard.
Rear Adm. Steven Ratti, the Coast Guard 5th District commander, and Kenneth Wright, the mayor of the City of Portsmouth, each gave a speech regarding the partnership between the Coast Guard and the City of Portsmouth.
