A 13 October 1775 resolution of the Continental Congress established what is now the United States Navy with “a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months….” After the American War of Independence, the U.S. Constitution empowered the new Congress “to provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798.
In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized official recognition of 13 October as the birthday of the U.S. Navy. Since then, each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.”
Today, 13 October 2022, will mark the Navy’s 247th birthday. The central theme of this year is “On Watch – 24/7 for 247 Years,” which highlights the Navy’s enduring ability to remain fully ready to respond to and effectively deter emergent threats.
The 24/7 tie-in is clever, and I like how they worked vintage platforms into the logo.
The new “Never” series of recruiting videos, released today, isn’t bad either.
The blurb:
Saying never to the Navy means never realizing your full potential. It’s hard to believe you could stop an attack on our country, work on the biggest engines in the world or even live aboard a submarine—until you discover just how strong you really are. A better version of you is waiting, ready to achieve what you once believed was impossible. Stop saying never and start your journey now