President's Day and Coast Guard Reserve Birthday

Presidents‘ Day is celebrated on February 19th when we pause, reflect, and honor our nation’s rich history, and salute former Presidents for the legacy of leadership they have provided our Nation for more than two centuries.

A day originally set aside to honor George Washington. Now, other presidents are also honored on this day.

The Coast Guard Reserve Birthday is also this day in February.  When the Coast Guard “Reserve” was authorized by act of Congress on June 23, 1939, the Coast Guard was given a legislative mandate to use civilian volunteers to promote safety on and over the high seas and the nation’s navigable waters. The Coast Guard Reserve was then a non-military service comprised of unpaid, volunteer U.S. citizens who owned motorboats or yachts.

Two years later, on Feb. 19, Congress amended the 1939 act with passage of the Auxiliary and Reserve Act of 1941. Passage of this act designated the Reserve as a military branch of the active service, while the civilian volunteers, formerly referred to as the Coast Guard Reserve, became the Auxiliary.
February 19 is formally recognized as the birth of the Coast Guard Reserve while June 23 is recognized as birthday of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.