rattlesnake flag
About three years ago, in late 2002, the U.S. Navy announced that it would be flying the flag known as the ‘First Navy Jack‘ which pictures a rattlesnake slithering across a field of thirteen red and white stripes, with the motto DONT TREAD ON ME. This is different from the ‘Gadsden Flag‘, with which it is often confused. That ensign depicts a coiled rattlesnake on a yellow background. The naval ships were to fly the old time ensign in accordance with the U.S. Navy declaration: “The temporary substitution of this Jack represents an historic reminder of the nation’s and Navy’s origin and will to persevere and triumph.”

Sunday, September 1, 2002 ~ U.S. Navy Revives Old Rattlesnake Flag, ‘Don’t Tread On Me,’ To Fly On All Vessels The U.S. Navy is ordering its fleet to fly the defiant Don’t Tread on Me rattlesnake flag aboard all its vessels to emphasize America’s determination in the war on terror, reports TIME magazine on Monday. Navy Secretary Gordon England’s directive said the resurrected flag “represents an historic reminder of the nation’s and Navy’s origin and will to persevere and triumph.“

Not only does this antique emblem show defiance to our enemies today, it reminds all of us of the courage and determination of our revolutionary forebears who created it. They were but a ragtag army of local militiamen when they impertinately admonished the world’s greatest army at that time, to “get out of the way, or else“!