The Coast Guard Foundation Announces the 2026 Salute to the United States Coast Guard in Texas

Prepare for an evening the Heartland won’t soon forget, and buy your tickets for the Salute to the Coast Guard in Houston, Texas, on November 12 at the Hotel Marriott Marquis Houston. The Foundation will pay tribute to the heroes who keep the Heartland safe with an evening of cocktails, dinner, updates, and inspiring company. 

Men and women of the Coast Guard are committed to the service of their country and local communities in ways that most don’t consider, and when they’re needed, they ensure everyone involved is safe and taken care of with expertise and humanity. This is a service that cannot go unrecognized. 

Coast Guard members have their work cut out for them in this rather large district. 

The Heartland District’s (formerly known as District 8) area of responsibility spans an impressive 26 states; including the Gulf coastline from Florida to Mexico, the adjacent offshore waters and outer continental shelf, as well as the inland waterways of the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee River systems. That’s 1,200 miles of coastline and 10,300 miles of inland waterways. 

Their missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, AIDS to navigation, waterways management, and outer continental shelf inspections. 

• Search and rescue (SAR) involves responding to distress calls and saving lives in coastal and inland waterways. 
• Maritime law enforcement is their duty to enforce federal laws, intercept illicit trafficking, and maintain order on the water. 
• Drug and migrant interdiction means stopping illegal narcotics smuggling and unauthorized maritime migration. 
• AIDS to navigation (ATON) involves maintaining buoys, lights, and markers to ensure safe commercial and recreational navigation, especially after severe weather.  
• Waterways management keeps marine transportation systems safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sound. 
• Outer continental shelf (OCS) inspections’ purpose is to manage safety and regulatory inspections for offshore energy facilities in the Gulf Coast. 

Join the celebration in tribute of all that these brave men and women accomplish. Cocktail hour starts at 6:00pm and dinner is served at 7:00pm on November 12 at the Marriott Marquis Houston.  

This year, Conoco Phillips will be honored by the Foundation during the Salute program for their generous partnership in supporting the Coast Guard.

Would you like more information about tickets, sponsorships, and more? Visit the Events Page on the Coast Guard Foundation website and consider becoming a sponsor today. Thank you to those who choose to sponsor this event, your support is truly impactful.