ALBANY, N.Y. (WNYT)- A birthday celebration at the USS Slater brought Coast Guard members, veterans and the Albany community together ahead of the service’s 236th anniversary. Community members and Coast Guard veterans gathered at the historic ship docked in downtown Albany for the event on Saturday, August 1. The event also gave Coast Guard members a chance to meet people in the community. Normally the public sees the coast guard aboard cutters, aboard helicopters, aboard fast-response boats, so it’s great to be out in the community today,” U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division Commander, Scott Kuhne said. It was one of many Coast Guard ships that played a vital role in fighting Nazi U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic.