A Salute to the US Navy and Naval Reserve

The US Navy has a 237 year heritage of defending freedom and protecting US interests around the globe.  In the United States, Navy Day was originally celebrated on October 27^th.

It was in the 1920s that the Navy League suggested that this date be selected to pay tribute to President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid supporter of the US Navy, as Oct 27^th was his birth date.  Later research found that the actual birth date of the Continental naval forces was October 13, 1775, when George Washington was authorized by a Congressional Resolution to command armed schooners to intercept British supply ships.

USS Constitution

In 1972, the Navy was authorized to recognize Oct 13^th as the official birth date of the US Navy.

The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

We salute these brave men and women today.  To read more about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at http://www.history.navy.mil/.