U.S. Navy Flag History

The Department of the Navy Seal, created in 1957, was to serve as the main feature of the official United States Navy flag, adopted two years later. The flag did not pass through an evolutionary development as was the case with the Navy seal. Ships of the earliest period in the Nation's naval history wore a variety of flags, including the striped Grand Union, and those bearing a pine tree or rattlesnake. However, these various banners may be considered steps in the birth of the national standard the "Stars and Stripes," rather than descent of a specific flag was introduced for use by naval landing forces. This was a blue flag with a white diamond shape in the center and a blue foul anchor superimposed on the diamond. The flag for the United States Navy is 4 feet 4 inches hoist by 5 feet 6 inches fly of dark blue material, with yellow fringe, 2 ½ inches wide. In the center of the flag is a device 3 feet 1 inch overall consisting of the inner pictorial position of the seal of the Department of the Navy. Within a circular yellow rope edging, all 2 feet 6 inches in diameter above a yellow ribbon inscribed "United States Navy," in dark blue letters. The flag of the United States Navy is reserved for display purposes and is carried by an honor guard on ceremonial occasions.

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