The people of Maryland, therefore, are most proud and most happy
that the United States Coast Guard has chosen its capital city—this his-
toric city where so many chapters of naval and maritime history have
been written—as a site for this new Coast Guard installation. It is my
understanding that this vessel which we are commissioning here this
afternoon is in the nature of a Coast Guard experiment—is a prototype
unit, the first of its kind, on which similar installations will be patterned
if the experiment proves successful. We all hope it will be a success, of
course, and we of Maryland are pleased that you have chosen this city as
the site upon which to conduct your experiment. As a practical matter,
we all rejoice that this new facility is being added to enhance the ever-
growing small-boat activities of this section of our State. I am no expert
in such things, but it occurs to me that the establishment of a permanent
station of this type is greatly needed and will be a definite asset to the
public and to the Coast Guard in our Maryland waters—in the great
Port of Baltimore with its intensified maritime activities and on the
Bay, rivers and estuaries where fishing and pleasure-boat activities
abound, The Maryland Department of Tidewater Fisheries and the
crews who man that Department's enforcement fleet have spoken to me
many times about the cooperation and support they have received from
the United States Coast Guard in the effort they make to enforce the
laws, to facilitate the movement of vessels and to insure the safety of all
persons using these waters. I, of course, will expect and require this
Department, and all other State agencies which may be involved, to
reciprocate with full cooperation and assistance. We are engaged in a
common task, with a common purpose, and I think you will agree with
me that we can achieve maximum results only if we work together.

For the fine spirit that the Coast Guard has shown, let me express my
sincere thanks to all of you who are here representing this splendid arm
of our federal government. I am convinced that, although a small ges-
ture, the establishment of this permanent Coast Guard Station—the moor-
ing of this houseboat and the two search-and-rescue vessels—will
strengthen the bonds of friendship between the citizens of Maryland and
the men who "go down to the sea in ships" and bolster the State's
identification with those who "do business in great waters. "

To the officers and men who will crew these vessels, let me say that it
is a pleasure to have you as neighbors here in Annapolis. I wish you all
happiness in your stay here and a full measure of success in your assign-
ment.

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