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New Jersey and the United States Coast Guard by Auxiliarist Leon C . DeFulgentis
New Jersey has a very special relationship as well as a long history with the United States Coast Guard . Significant milestones occurred in the state of New Jersey that give the U . S . Coast Guard a special place in New Jersey ’ s heart . William Augustus Newell ( September 5 , 1817-August 8 , 1901 ) served as the 18th governor of New Jersey . Newell witnessed the wreck of the Terasto on Long Beach Island in 1839 . All its passengers and crew drowned within sight of onlookers on the beach who had no means to save them . New Jersey ’ s shore had quite a different character over 170 years ago than the beaches and boardwalks enjoyed by millions today . The waters offshore were considered very dangerous , and they were labeled the “ Graveyard of the Atlantic ” for the many shoals lurking beneath the waves that could easily cause shipwrecks .
The saving of life from shipwrecks was almost nonexistent due to the desolate nature of the beaches as well as lack of training and equipment . In 1848 , nearly a decade after Newell witnessed the Terasto wreck he advocated for a $ 10,000 congressional appropriation to establish unmanned lifesaving stations along the New Jersey Coast . Formal federal government involvement in the lifesaving business began on August 14 , 1848 , with the signing of the Newell Act , named for its chief advocate , New Jersey Representative William A . Newell . Under this act surfboats , rockets , and other necessary apparatus was provided to better preserve life and property along the coast of New Jersey from shipwreck . The Life-Saving Service left behind a splendid record . From 1871 through 1914 , the Service aided 28,121 vessels , and rescued or aided 178,741 persons , while only 1,455 people lost their lives .
These early stations were administered by the Revenue Marine ( later renamed the United States Revenue Cutter Service ) which later became the United States Coast Guard in 1915 . Since 1915 , the U . S . Coast Guard has continued to save lives endangered by the sea , using fast , motorized rescue boats , modern radar and radio technology , and aircraft including helicopters to accomplish its search and rescue missions . The Coast Guard ’ s official motto , “ Semper Paratus ” which means “ Always Ready ,” echoes the spirit of the old Life-Saving Service ’ s unofficial motto : “ Remember , you have to go out , but nothing says you have to come back .”
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