Hoist the Colors On Official Navy Birthday

By Chuck N. Baker
(Washington) — It’s a safe bet that entertainers Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin and Van Morrison as well as many other blues singers never served in the United States Navy. And it’s pretty certain that no American sailor ever received a medal or a gold record for making a blues recording. But when it comes to the Navy, those who serve have the blues every day — Navy blue, that is.

But let’s not give up on music and the Navy. On October 13, 1775, the United States Navy was established. So this month we can cut the cake and sing “Anchors Away” to our hearts content, commemorating some 240 years of sea power. Mainly celebrated by personnel, veterans, or others related to the Navy, the big day is Sunday, October 13.

The United States Navy originated as the Continental Navy. The Continental Congress authorized two armed vessels to search for ships supplying the British with weapons and ammunition during the American Revolutionary War, 1775–1783. When the war ended, the Continental Navy was dismantled, but pirate threats to American merchant shipping led President George Washington to establish the Naval Act of 1794, creating a permanent standing (or floating) U.S. Navy. It’s the naval warfare branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. More than 300,000 personnel serve on active duty and approximately 100,000 personnel report to the Navy Reserve.

The creation of Washington’s fleet was not without controversy. In fact, it was hotly debated for 11 days in the Continental Congress. According to the official Navy website, some in that debate were convinced that having a standing navy was “the maddest idea in the world.” As the  debates ended, they were won by “navalists” who were in favor of adding a water-bound fleet as another branch of defense.

The U.S. Navy birthday is sometimes confused with Navy Day, created in 1922 to recognize the service of all Navy members. It’s ironic to learn that Navy Day pre-dates official recognition of the Navy birthday. Navy Day is held on October 27 and that date was chosen, so the story goes, in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt whose birthday is also on the 27th. It wasn’t until 1972 when Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt declared an official recognition of the holiday, intended to honor all who served in a Navy uniform, past and present.

While considered an “internal” celebration recognized by the Department of Defense rather than a full-blown national holiday, the Navy birthday is an important acknowledgement of the service and accomplishments of the second-oldest fighting force under the command of the president of the United States.

The earliest days of the Navy (when it was still known as the Continental Navy) had the fleet working with privately-held vessels to interdict the British fleet. Attitudes and military capabilities were far different in that era with regard to working with “privateers” in the context of combat, or exercising the will of the United States against an enemy. That’s something generally not done in this modern era. The Continental Navy was disbanded two years after the American Revolution, and a fleet of ships wouldn’t be deemed necessary again until 1794 when the U.S. government recognized the need to protect American interests against piracy and rival powers in the Western hemisphere. The reason this milestone is significant is that in spite of the timeline of the original Continental Navy — and the “reboot” of an American sea power — the date the Continental Navy came into existence is the officially recognized Navy birthday.

When it comes to celebrating birthdays, those in the military take a back seat to no one. But for any civilians who might want to join in the festivities, they might consider bell ringing, local parades, patriotic speeches, heritage events or partying with ice cream and red, white and blue birthday cake. But there’s no need to sing the blues. Our sailors wear them every day.