U.S. Life Saving Service – You Have to Go Out, But You Don’t Have To Come Back has been the motto for over 150 years. Since 1871 the US Life Saving Service and led by a young attorney from Maine named Sumner Kimball. Under his leadership did this service become a mainstay of shore line rescue having Stations placed 3-5 miles apart from each other on the eastern coast of the United States of America including stations in the Great Lakes, the Pacific coast and the western shores of Florida.
Each Life Saving Station were manned by a station keeper and 6 Surfman. Surfman would live on site at these stations like Firefighters and could go months without seeing their fellow Surfman in sometimes cramped, dank living conditions in some of the more remote locations. Surfman would take shifts patrolling the beaches nightly on the lookout for distressing marine vessels. This is when they woudl see the other surfman from stations nearby exchange a “check”, a small badge which proved they completed their patrol and walk back.
Remember their were no telephones, cellphones, radios, etc. Going out in these conditions with no way to call for help truly demands the most brave and courageous seaman. Many would go to the aid of these sinking ships selflessly saving the lives of others with the possibility they might not return home. That is why the slogan became a part of the culture to reflect reality and remind other life savers that it was a dangerous undertaking to challenge the sea pulling victims from the jaws of death.
In 1915 the Life Saving Services were combined wit the Revenue Cutters to form the United States Coast Guard. Semper Paratus! Here at Born Ready Apparel we woudl like to honor those who take this challenge daily as a part of their job. We salute the life savers of the United States Coast Guard.