Semper Paratus (march)

Semper Paratus

English: Always Ready
Sheet music cover, 1928
Organizational anthem of the  United States Coast Guard
Lyrics	Homer Smith and Walton Butterfield, 1943
Music	Francis Saltus Van Boskerck, 1927
Adopted	1928; 96 years ago (1928)[1]

"Semper Paratus" (Latin for "Always Ready") is the official song and march of the United States Coast Guard. It was composed by U.S. Coast Guard Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck in 1927. It made its debut in 1928.

During the run of A Girl in Every Port (1928 film) at the Fox Theater in Washington D.C., a detachment of 50 Coast Guard officers appeared at the theater for the debut of "Semper Paratus", the official song of the U.S. Coast Guard. The officers appeared at each performance during the playing of the song.^[2] Rear Admiral Frederick Billard was the Coast Guard commandant at the time.

Another Service Song

Another Coast Guardsman wrote the official march of the U.S. Public Health Service. Senior Musician George King III, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) composed the "U.S. Public Health Service March", and presented the copyright to the PHS Surgeon General, by whom it is still held. The PHS is the only one of the uniformed services in which the copyright is held by the titular head of the Corps. In addition, King composed the Centennial Fanfare, "Anchor and Caduceus", for the PHS Corps Centennial event in 1989. The U.S. Coast Guard Band recorded both the PHS March and Centennial Fanfare for the Public Health Service and presented it to the PHS during their centennial.  At the Washington gala celebrating the event in January of 1989, the Coast Guard Band played and Senior Musician King conducted, for the premier of the fanfare. The only Coast Guardsman so honored, Senior Musician King was presented the PHS Citation by Surgeon General Koop for his special service. The lyrics are: "The mission of our service is known the world around / In research and in treatment no equal can be found / In the silent war against disease no truce is ever seen / We serve on the land and the sea for humanity / The Public Health Service Team". The Coast Guard and the Public Health Service stemmed from the Revenue Cutter Service and the Marine Hospital Service (serving members of United States Merchant Marine, the U.S. Coast Guard and others). The Marine Hospital Service evolved into the U.S. Public Health Service.