Like all flags in the history of the United States of America, the Navy flag has seen many transformations. The earliest were similar to the United States flag as was the case with other branches of our armed forces. The early Navy flag featured symbols like the rattlesnake and pine tree. Later years served to focus attention on the Navy flag and to specify more standard applications for its usage.

The History of The Navy Flag

The first version of the Navy flag was quite similar to the Infantry Battalion flag that was used by the landing forces, the Marines. It was a blue field with a white diamond shaped object in the center and a blue anchor atop the white diamond. It lasted about sixty years as primarily a ceremonious symbol of the Navy until 1959. By Presidential order a more representative flag of the Navy was authorized.

In 1957 the Navy created an official seal that became the prominent feature on its subsequent flag. The Navy flag is a standard size of 4'-4" high by 5'-6" wide. It has a field of blue with a yellow fringe. The Navy seal is featured in the center, and the words, "United States Navy" are below in dark blue letters.

The Navy flag does not fly from ships. The United States of America flag and other signal flags are flown on them instead. It is primarily ceremonial and is only carried by honor guards in parades and other ceremonies. Of course, many ex-Navy find that this ceremonial flag works quite well on the bulkhead beside their forward hatch at home (the wall beside the front door to the rest of us).