Description
The US Coast Guard Station Los Angeles/Long Beach challenge coin salutes “The Busiest Station on the West Coast,” and the legendary professionalism of station personnel.
The station has a number of primary missions, including Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security. Strategically located at the largest center of population on the West Coast, the station’s responsibilities extend from the south of Orange County at Dana Point north past Santa Monica and west to Point Dume (Malibu), encompassing the most concentrated coastal marine traffic on the West Coast. Responsibility also extends 26 miles seaward to include Catalina Island.
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach comprise the largest cargo seaport in the United States, and the seaport is also the largest cruise ship port on the West Coast, so homeland security vigilance is vital. Also, the southern California coast is a boaters’ paradise, as is Catalina Island; however, the waters of Catalina Channel are known to be extremely treacherous. To successfully handle hundreds of search and rescue incidents each year, the station coordinates with many search and rescue agencies in the Los Angeles area, including LA County Lifeguards (Baywatch), Orange County Sheriffs, LA City Fire Department, LA City Lifeguards, Long Beach Fire Department, as well as with Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles.
Each coin measures 1 3/4 inch (44mm) in diameter.
