It is Coast Guard Day. It is time for picnics and telling your shipmates how you appreciate them. Of course many are still on the job.

For 22 years I had the privilege of being part of the organization. Most of the time it was fun, although there were times when it definitely was not. Don’t expect perfection. Like the nation itself, the Coast Guard is a work in progress. It can be better. Your efforts may not always be appreciated. Be true to the ideals that motivate you, and you and the organization will be better in the end.