The Navy Jack

The "Don't Tread on Me" flag may well be our county's first banner. There does seem to be some disagreement over this, and to whether it contained an uncoiled rattlesnake on it, but me, I like the story.

By definition a jack is: "a flag corresponding in appearance to the union or canton of the national ensign. In the United States Navy, it is a blue flag containg a star for each state. For countries whose colors have no canton, the jack is simply a small national ensign. On a sailing vessel the jack is hoisted at the jack-staff shipped at the bowsprit cap when at anchor or in port."

In 1775, as the first ships of the Continental Navy readied in the Delaware River, Commodore Esek Hopkins issued a set of fleet signals. Among the signals was an instruction directing vessels to fly a striped Jack and Ensign in their proper places. The first orders, and the birth of our Navy. The rattlesnake had long been a symbol of resistance to British repressive acts in Colonial America; it's display on the new Jack of the fledging Continental Navy fit naturally with the fervor of the times.

On 31 May 2002 SECNAV instruction 10520.6 issuied by the Honorable Gordon R. England, stated that the first Navy Jack be displayed on board all United States Navy ship during the Global War on Terrorism. It is displayed as such today.

So now you know more about the Navy Jack, that you ever cared to know, I will close by wishing Queen Elizabeth II a happy 84th birthday. Just remember, "Don't Tread on Me".

Old Chief Sends,