Presidential Message on the Birthday of the United States Navy

For over 250 years, American sailors have defended our Nation upon the seas, forging the most lethal Navy in the history of the world. Today, on the birthday of the United States Navy, Icelebrate this incredible milestone with our active duty and reserve sailors, past and present, whose unparalleled expertise and extraordinary devotion to duty in times of war and peace have carried our Navy to these unrivaled heights.

On October 13, 1775, our Navy was formally established when the Second Continental Congress authorized a pair of armed vessels to sail against the mighty British Empire, intercept enemy supply lines, and defend the cause of American liberty at sea during the Revolutionary War. Since its humble beginnings, the Navy has grown into the most formidable seafaring force the world has ever known.

Today’s sailors are part of a storied legacy of maritime supremacy that has safeguarded our sovereignty in every major conflict since. Our warships are unmistakable symbols of American military might, but the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art fleet is nothing without the elite men and women who carry out every mission at home and abroad with unwavering resolve and professionalism. In home ports and on carrier decks, submarine patrols, and distant oceans, our sailor stand watch around the clock, deterring aggression, keeping the world’s great sea lanes open and free, and carrying American strength to every corner of the globe. Their skill and sacrifice keep our Republic safe and secure in the blessings of liberty, earning the everlasting gratitude of the American People.