Navy Day

On Friday, October 13, 1775 the United States Navy’s foundations were formed. It all started with two sailing vessels, outfitted, manned, and sent out for 3-month deployments. From these modest beginnings eventually grew our modern day Navy. Now the Navy has over 300,000 active personnel and has a fleet that includes aircraft carriers, amphibious warfare vessels, surface vessels and submarines.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
1775 The U.S.. Navy was originally called the Continental Navy and started during the American Revolution.

1789 Constitutional provision for Congress to “provide and maintain a Navy”.

1794 Congress first uses the power given by the 1789 constitutional provision and manned six frigates in response to an international crisis.

1798 Department of the Navy established. Prior to this the Department of War was solely responsible for the Navy.

1814 Naval Regulations Established

1911 Official Defining of Many Naval Terms

1932 Articles for the Government of the Navy

1940 Naval Expansion Act

1941 The Navy’s involvement in World War II, beginning with the attack on Pearl Harbor, brought it into international recognition.

TRADITIONS: From the uniforms to the terminology to the signals of whistles, bells and flags everything has a meaning.

Naval Historical Center provides a wealth of information about heritage of the Navy.

The official Navy colors are blue and gold.

The Navy Hymn: "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"

Navy March: "Anchors Aweigh"
The music was composed by Lt. Charles A. Zimmerman in 1906 as a march for the Naval Academy Class of 1907 and the lyrics were written by Midshipman Alfred H. Miles. It was first performed at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

Navy Motto
There is no official motto for the U.S. Navy. "Non sibi sed patriae" (Not self but country) is often cited as the Navy's motto, however.

Just a Bit of TRIVIA
Sailing vessels are referred to in the feminine/ “she”!

Submarines are called boats… never ships!

The collar on an enlisted uniform was originally designed to protect the uniform from the tar on a sailor’s braid!

Sailors used to be (and may still be?) taught how to turn their uniform into a floatation device if need be!

Did you know that the Navy also has a Deep Submergence Research submarine? Or at least it does until next month. NR-1 is being decommissioned and the Navy does not have any current plans to replace her.. You can read more about this unique vessel: NR-1 Deep Submergence Craft. My husband served on this vessel as well as two nuclear powered submarines (The USS Omaha and The USS San Juan) and currently works refueling submarines!

TODAY’S NAVY
The Navy is rich in its past, but it is also innovative and is in constant forward movement to keep it efficient and effective!

Turbines that float on magnets instead of using oil, all electric nuclear powered air craft carriers, alternative propulsion methods and many new technologies are under

development even now! One example that you can read about is a new class of aircraft carrier: Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier



As a Navy wife, I feel a certain patriotic tug at my heart at the sight of the ships in our local shipyard, or the frequent images of families greeting returning sailors on the dock. Especially emotional are the pictures of daddies being introduced to newborns born during their absences. It’s not easy being a Navy family, but we are proud of the heritage of the Navy’s rich past and are blessed to be a part of the Navy’s present as we serve our country together, each in our own unique ways!