On October 13, we celebrate the birthday of the United States Navy.
We recently commemorated the opening of the Naval Academy on October 10, and Navy Day follows quickly on October 27. On this day, the nation recognizes all women and men who have served in the United States Navy, past and present.
For 50 years, 1922 to 1972, the Navy’s birthday was celebrated on Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, October 27th. The Navy League of the United States designated this date due to Roosevelt’s work in elevating the U.S. Navy to a premier force.
Continental Navy
On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress established a Naval Force consisting of a small fleet of privateers to offset British Sea Power and disrupt British commerce. This small fleet of ships conducted naval raids and attacked British Commerce ships and transports. After the American Revolution, the final ships from the fleet were sold off. However, increasing threats from European powers and pirates, and the increase of trade and shipping proved the necessity of an American Naval force.
Today, the United States Navy is the largest Navy in the world, with over 340,000 active duty personnel and 71,000 in the Navy Reserve.
Flying the United States Navy Flag Outdoors
The Department of Defense Directive 1005.8 asserts the order of precedence of military personnel, which we can safely assume mirrors that of military flags on an Outdoor Flagpole. That order is as follows: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. However, the Coast Guard Flag moves up right behind Navy when the Coast Guard operates as a service of the Department of the Navy during a time of war. As of this writing, the D.O.D. Directive has not been updated to include the Space Force flag (current as of 2003).
The recent addition of the Space Force flag has, therefore, generated some confusion. Most visible examples show the Space Force flag placed between the Air Force and Coast Guard flags. However, though it meets with historic precedent and follows the same guiding reasoning, this precedence has not been documented in writing that we have found.
In a mandatory directive from the Secretary of The Air Force (downloadable here) in August of 2020, the Space Force flag is ordered to be flown in the sixth position, after the Coast Guard flag (as pictured throughout our website).
When the flags are being flown on multiple Outdoor Flagpoles, the American Flag should always be flown first in line. If you are flying the Navy flag on the same pole as your American Flag, it should be of equal size or smaller and flown below the American Flag.
Displaying United States Navy Flags Indoors
When displaying Military Ceremonial Flags, the order of precedence remains the same as when they are displayed outdoors. The American Ceremonial Flag is always displayed first in the order. It’s also important to remember that when a Military Ceremonial flag is presented by a color guard, either indoors, during a parade, or on the playing field, a Parade Carry Belt must be worn.
Military Desk Flags and sets are another way to show your support for U.S. Armed Forces. Desk flags are small and versatile; they can be displayed on a podium, a desk, or even a window sill. These small flags can also be waved during a parade or celebration for the United States Navy Birthday.
100% American-Made Ceremonial United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
Anchors Aweigh!
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Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.
U.S. Navy Flags in Assorted Sizes from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
