The Folded Flag Foundation Wishes the U.S. Navy a Happy Birthday!
Did you know that the United States Navy began as the Continental Navy on Oct. 13, 1775? It started with only two armed ships to help Americans search British ships during the American Revolutionary War.
After the war, the Continental Navy was dismantled. Pirates began threatening American’s merchant ships so President George Washington established the Naval Act of 1794 to create a standing U.S. Navy.
There are currently more than 328,000 active duty members and more than 98,000 ready reserve members with over 200 ships in the U.S. Navy. We thank all our U.S. Navy members – past and present – for 243 years of service.