HACKENSACK, N.J. - Bergen County recognized the importance of Coast Guard Day, a commemorative holiday which celebrates the birth of the Coast Guard on August 4, 1790 when the first Congress authorized the creation of the revenue cutter service.

This ancestor organization of today's Coast Guard was tasked with enforcing tariff and trade laws as well as the prevention of smuggling.

The modern Coast Guard Service emerged through a Congressional Act in 1915 which merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service.

Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney said, "I am particularly proud that Bergen County serves as the home base of Flotilla 10-08. These volunteer guardians provide an invaluable service while training classes in safe recreational boating."

The Coast Guard describes itself as a military, multi-mission, maritime service within the Department of Homeland Security. Members of the Coast Guard are tasked with five primary missions: Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, Maritime Mobility, National Defense, and Protection of Natural Resources. These missions are designed to enable the Coast Guard to protect the public, the environment, and American economic and security interests in any international body of water as well as the United States' coasts, ports, and inland waterways.

Additionally, the United States Coast Guard conduct weather patrols and iceberg patrols that are critical to safe navigation.

This distinctive blend of military, humanitarian, and civilian law-enforcement roles makes the Coast Guard unique among the five branches of the United States armed forces.

Coast Guard Flotilla 10-08 is based out of the Bergen County town of Rochelle Park. It meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at the Boy Scout Museum behind the Valley National Bank on Rochelle Avenue. It is led by Flotilla Commander Peter Fitzpatrick and Vice Flotilla Commander George Saoud.

Pictured above from left to right: Joe Restivo, Bergen County Division of Veterans Services' Freeholder Vice Chairwoman Elizabeth Calabrese; U.S. Coast Guard Commander Kenneth Pierro; Freeholder John S. Hogan; Jerry Plancher, Bergen County Division of Veterans Services; Freeholder Bernadette McPherson; and Freeholder Chair pro tempore David L. Ganz.