President Barack Obama phone call in the Oval Office to Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard, in recognition of the Coast Guard's 220th birthday, Aug. 4, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Today is a special day for our nation. As the Coast Guard celebrates its birthday, so does the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
The President honored the Coast Guard men and women stationed across the Gulf Coast, the nation and the world with a phone call and letter thanking them for the valued service they provide to the American public.
During the phone call, President Obama said:
Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard, participates in a phone call from President Obama to wish Coast Guard men and women a happy 220th birthday. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Bender)
“I know that everybody within ear shot has been working extraordinarily hard. Not just to protect and clean up the Gulf but to help keep America safe and secure each and every day. I want all of you to know that I stand with you, as I stand with the Gulf communities, even as you continue the critical mission that you are on but also over the long term until the people of the Gulf have fully recovered from this most recent disaster.
It is a great privilege to share a birthday with the Coast Guard. I am full of admiration for the courage and the dedication and the hard work that each of you do.
I, obviously, am especially looking forward to celebrating sometime this month having finally killed the BP well and gotten the relief well completed. But, I want everybody to know that we could not have done this without you. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re going to need to recover fully in the Gulf and that’s going to take all the efforts of the Coast Guard. We still have a hurricane season ahead of us, which is going to involve all of you in one capacity or another.
Just know that your Commander in Chief is proud of you, the nation is proud of you, and we are very very appreciative of your service.
Happy Birthday Coast Guard and, again, it is a great privilege to share a birthday with you.”
President Obama's birthday letter to the Coast Guard. Click the photo to see the full-size document.