- Early American Navy jack
- Flown by all US Navy ships for the bicentennial, 1976.
- Flown on oldest commissioned Navy ship, in lieu of "union."
- Flown on all US Navy ships for duration of War on Terror.
- The Rattlesnake was a common motif for American patriots
and appeared on many flags.
- This is a Navy Jack, not an Ensign. The Navy does not carry jack flags on land, so there is no definitive authority on parade etiquette. Other military traditions, however, recommend that this be treated as a regimental flag when on land.
- In parades or displays, the Jack looks well when grouped with other "snake" flags.
Q: Is this an American flag?
A: It is an American Jack, but it is not an American Ensign.
Q: What's the difference between a Jack and an Ensign?
A: An Ensign is the flag flown from the mast of a ship that shows national identity. The official US flag is also the US Navy's ensign. A Jack is an additional flag which is flown from the ship's bow (front). It is mainly flown to "dress" the ship for special occasions or passengers, when a ship is in port, or at anchor.
Q: Is the really the first jack flown by the US Navy?
A: The US Navy's History Center doubts that this was the very first jack. It was probably preceeded by a red and white striped jack, and the snake was added later. Regardless, the name of this flag is "First Navy Jack."
A: The stripes and the rattlesnake were all important Patriot symbols during the revolution. We know the US Navy used these symbols, but we aren't sure when they were combined. South Carolina had its own ships, and they were known to fly this flag.
Q: What jack did the US Navy fly before the War on Terror?
A: It is called the "Union." It is the blue field of white stars from the US Ensign, with one star for each state of the union. Non-Navy military ships, such as the Military Sealift Command, continue to use the 50-star jack. The Coast Guard has a unique Ensign and Jack for their ships.
A: The rattlesnake was a popular symbol of American liberty, and can still be seen throughout the United States.
A: You may have seen the famous cartoon by Benjamin Franklin showing a snake cut into pieces and the words "Join or Die." This was a call to unite the British Colonies in America against the French in 1754. When the colonies rebelled against Parliament, the cartoon was adapted and reused by others. The snake appeared whole once the colonies united, this time with a warning to the British: Don't Tread on Me!
A: The "American Guesser" (probably Benjamin Franklin) answered your question: "It occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her. ... I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her."
Benjamin Franklin's "Join, or Die" cartoon.
Naval History Center
Wikipedia
Read the American Guesser's explanation of the snake symbol.
