from an old Air Force guy

Friday, October 13, 1775

Philadelphia — a meeting of the Continental Congress

This resolution:

 

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  “Resolved, That 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, and that the commander be instructed to cruize eastward, for intercepting such transports as may be laden with warlike stores and other supplies for our enemies, and for such other purposes as the Congress shall direct.That a Committee of three be appointed to prepare an estimate of the expence, and lay the same before the Congress, and to contract with proper persons to fit out the vessel.Resolved, that another vessel be fitted out for the same purposes, and that the said committee report their opinion of a proper vessel, and also an estimate of the expence.” 

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Manned by crews of eighty, they were sent on a cruise of three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the navy.

After the War of Independence, the ships of the Continental Navy were sold off, and the seamen and officers let go.

 The Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1789, empowered Congress “to provide and maintain a Navy.” In the year 1794 Congress first acted on that power, in response to international crises, by authorizing the procuring and manning of six frigates.

 Three of those frigates, USS United States, USS Constellation, and USS Constitution, were completed and launched in 1797.

 From 1794 until 1798, administration of the naval affairs of the United States was the responsibility of the Department of War.

 On 30 April 1798, Congress established the Department of the Navy to meet the need for an executive department responsible solely for, and staffed with persons expert in, naval affairs, on the eve of the commencement of armed hostilities with the naval forces of France.

 And today the United States Navy can take more firepower for offensive and defensive operations to the battle, take more medical and humanitarian aid to those in need, and provide more emergency supplies and materials to stricken victims of natural disaster, they can do all this, faster, better, and more reliably than any other Naval Force on the planet.

And remember, PEOPLE have made the difference.  They always have and they always will.

People of The United States Navy, I salute you.