Canadian Coast Guard Ship Constable Carriere leads the way during the parade of ships, Aug. 1, 2016, as part of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, in Grand Haven, Michigan.CCGS Constable Carrier, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay, USCGC Morro Bay and USCGC Hollyhock all participated in the parade and were open for free public tours all week long.(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Marvin L. Kimmel)
Crews from multiple service agencies battle it out during a game of waterball during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, Aug. 3, 2016.Several Coast Guard crews along with local fire and police participated in the contest.(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Marvin L. Kimmel)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Corcoran, a damage controlman stationed with Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, Ohio, works closely with a young visitor on the finer points of the M60 machine gun, Aug. 2, 2016, during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Kids Day at Mulligans Hollow Park in Grand Haven, Michigan. Corcoran and other members from PSU 309 displayed many aspects of their jobs as members of a readily deployable force. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher M. Yaw)
Petty Officer 1st Class Laurie Fletcher, an operations specialist stationed with Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, Ohio, has a day full of laughs at some of the comments the kids make about the weight of the gear they tried on, Aug. 2, 2016, at Mulligans Hollow Park in Grand Haven, Michigan. Fletcher helped kids don gear as a part of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival's Kids Day. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher M. Yaw)
A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police surveys the crowd from aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Constable Carriere, Aug. 4, 2016, during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan.The crew aboard the Carriere supports the Canadian Compliance and Enforcement program in the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Marvin L. Kimmel)
CLEVELAND — Coast Guard crews across the Great Lakes are celebrating the Coast Guard's 226th birthday this week alongside shipmates, family and friends.
In 1790, Congress authorized Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to create a maritime service using a system of cutters to enforce customs laws and prevent smuggling.
Each year in the 9th District, the only designated Coast Guard City USA, Grand Haven, Michigan, and the Coast Guard work together for a week-long celebration the week of the service's birthday to honor the memory, the service and the members of the United States Coast Guard. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of Coast Guard Aviation.
Festivities begin with the parade of ships and are followed by cutter tours throughout the week, allowing members of the public to see the vessels first hand. Other events throughout the week are aimed at celebrating, sharing and displaying the work crews perform on a daily basis.
