The First Navy Jack: A Maritime Symbol of Freedom and Resistance
Navy Jack
Since it’s obvious to me there hasn’t been enough flags or Navy here of late, I was fortunate enough to come across this bit of history.
Among pre-Constitutional American flags is the First Navy Jack – the current national maritime flag and an official symbol of the United States government to this day. But it’s not just the “first” Navy Jack – it’s also the current Navy Jack. In fact, it’s been used several times throughout America’s history for our Navy, particularly during periods of nationalist and patriotic fervor. Where did the flag come from? And how did it become the current standard of the United States Navy?
The symbolism of the flag is familiar to vexillologists and American patriots alike, bearing the 13 stripes to signify the original colonies that rebelled against the British Crown. Imposed on top are familiar symbols from the Gadsden Flag. First, the rattlesnake, this time uncoiled and not ready to strike. Second, the familiar legend “Don’t Tread On Me,” often rendered without the apostrophe, as a warning to tyrants everywhere that the seemingly docile rattlesnake can quickly coil and strike when the time is right. This combination of American flag features along with a slogan of resistance to tyranny have created an iconic national flag. But it’s not the original First Navy Jack.
In fact, no one is quite sure what the original design was. Commodore Esek Hopkins commissioned a “striped” jack, which many historians believe was the 13 stripes and nothing more. The earliest attested flag is from 1880, over 100 years after the formation of the Continental Navy and nearly a century after the formation of the United States Navy, and looked like what we now call the First Navy Jack. This design is found in History of the Flag of the United States by Admiral George Henry Preble, an influential history tome of the time. While this doesn’t mean that the early Navy didn’t fly the First Navy Jack, modern scholarship generally agrees that people believed this to be the design of the flag because of an incorrect pressing plate from the time of the American Revolution.
The Gadsden Flag is a popular flight suit patch these days. Pretty cool, I think.
The entire article may be read here, and there will be a test: Navy Jack
Hat tip to Ammo.com for the article, images, and link. What? I forgot an image! Gotta fix that.
Don’t tread on her! *grin*
Category: Navy
Nicely done Ed! Great history lesson. One that more than likely should be emulated in the public skhools….
I thought the first Jack was the Cracker Jack.
Had a little dog and the words were “BITE ME”
And you never did get the little toy, right 26L?
And the little dog bit you 26L? Is that why the hostility?
The middle child NEVER got the prize and ALWAYS had to walk and feed the dog. Did help to cement my love and respect for all dogs that is still strong today.
Great post AW1Ed. I got lost over there for awhile in the ammo.com linkies. You know how this puppy will track.
If Miss Thang with the Flag Cape and spiked heels is the teacher administering the test, I will gladly volunteer to stay after class for extra tutoring and to dust her erasers. She can school AND teach this old dog some tricks.
Army-Navy thing. We fight like family, which we actually are, and it’s in good fun. Mostly.
But when an outsider starts up with one of us, it’s “No one f***s with the Army! Only I get to f*** with My Army. Stand by!”
And the melee begins.
*grin*
^word^
Well, actually, if it’s a Navy guy getting whacked, I’ll watch for a little while before intervening.
There was no toy.
My brother said two came in his but he wouldn’t give me one.
The anger lingers.
You know, that coulda been the whole cause and start of charles w’s drinking problem. And why he won’t share his stapler.
They are now part of Navy Working Type III uniform and Type II, and authorized now. Started with Navy IA troops wearing the ACU’s they could wear on that uniform, I wore one.
That’s great, thanks for the comment.
I fly one proudly on my front porch.
Thanks for the info. I always thought the Navy flag was called a “Jack” because most sailors I’ve worked with didn’t know jack shit about much.
It was flown from the jackstaff, a spar at the bow of a sailing vessel, hence the name “Jack.”
Now who didn’t know jack shit?
What about the Jack trousers?
Were those flown from the same spar thus the name Jack?
Now you’re just being a jack-off.
Army had to wait 181 years to get their first flag.
No story there.
Yeah, I’m a little bitter.
This is no shit. The Navy Jack has a language all its own. The command by which this flag is lowered is, “Navy Jack Off!”
And they wonder why we can’t take you anywhere. Monkey House? Cav flings the poo back and keeps score.
Speaking of jack shit, isn’t that why a “head” is where you do so, because that’s where they used to be on sailing ships, near the figurehead?
timactual: Correct you are:
“The bathroom of a maritime vessel is known as the head because of its location aboard vessels in the bow or fore of the ship, as explained by the Naval Heritage and History Command.”
So somebody takes a dump and the whole ship has to breath it in?
I would rather hang my ass off the aft than poison my shipmates.
Isn’t that why they call it aft?
I guess they don’t burn shit in the Navy. Must be an Army thing.
They just wanted you to think that so you’d leave them alone!
Never Again Volunteer Yourself!!!
That’s a Jack, Fact!
Heh. Not too bad for a blatant Monday obvious Army troll bait post.
*grin*
I apologize for ruining your post but it was just hanging there over the plate and wrote itself.
“Since it’s obvious to me there hasn’t been enough flags or Navy here of late”