Semper Paratus (march)

"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. 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.

Etymology
Semper Paratus is the title of the song and is also the U.S. Coast Guard's official motto. The precise origin of the phrase is obscure, although the U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office notes the first use was by the New Orleans Bee newspaper in 1836, in reference to the actions of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service during the Ingham incident.

Composition
The original lyrics (seen below) were written by Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck in 1922, at the cabin of USCGC Yamacraw (1909) in Savannah, Georgia; he wrote the music in 1927, on a "beat-up old piano" in Unalaska, Alaska.

Lyrical modifications
The current verse, as well as a second chorus, were written by Homer Smith, 3rd Naval District Coast Guard quartet; Chief Cole; and Lieutenant Walton Butterfield in 1943. In 1969, the first line of the chorus was changed from “So here's the Coast Guard marching song, We sing on land and sea.” to “We're always ready for the call, We place our trust in Thee.”

Lyrics


Verse 1
 * From Aztec Shore to Arctic Zone,
 * To Europe and Far East,
 * The Flag is carried by our ships
 * In times of war and peace;
 * And never have we struck it yet,
 * In spite of foemen's might,
 * Who cheered our crews and cheered again
 * For showing how to fight.

Chorus
 * We're always ready for the call,
 * We place our trust in Thee.
 * Through surf and storm and howling gale,
 * High shall our purpose be,
 * "Semper Paratus" is our guide,
 * Our fame, our glory, too.
 * To fight to save or fight and die!
 * Aye! Coast Guard, we are for you.

Verse 2
 * "Surveyor" and "Narcissus,"
 * The "Eagle" and "Dispatch,"
 * The "Hudson" and the "Tampa,"
 * These names are hard to match;
 * From Barrow's shores to Paraguay,
 * Great Lakes or Ocean's wave,
 * The Coast Guard fights through storms and winds
 * To punish or to save.

Verse 3
 * Aye! We've been "Always Ready"
 * To do, to fight, or die!
 * Write glory to the shield we wear
 * In letters to the sky.
 * To sink the foe or save the maimed
 * Our mission and our pride.
 * We'll carry on 'til Kingdom Come
 * Ideals for which we've died.