020911-N-0000H-001

020911-N-0000H-001 Cairns, Australia (Sep. 11, 2002) — Signalman 3rd Class Sean Polidore from Franklin, La., raises the “Navy Jack” in lieu of the “Union Jack” aboard USS George Philip (FFG 12) during the ship’s morning flag raising ceremony. The guided-missile frigate, on a routine deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations, is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (U.S.), which gives the Sailors aboard the ship the honor of being the first to raise the “Navy Jack.” Under direction of the Secretary of the Navy, Gordon R. England, all U.S. Navy ships will fly the ÒNavy JackÓ in place of the ÒUnion JackÓ for the duration of the war on terrorism. The ÒNavy JackÓ is a flag consisting of a rattlesnake superimposed across thirteen horizontal alternating red and white stripes, with the motto, ÒDonÕt Tread on Me.Ó Previously, only the oldest active commissioned ship, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), was authorized to fly the “Navy Jack.” The temporary substitution of the “Navy Jack” serves as a historic reminder of the United States’ and U.S. Navy’s origin, as well as the will of its people to persevere and triumph. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Hospital Corpsman Gary Mihalko. (RELEASED)

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