By Executive Order of the President of the United States on 24 April 1959 a flag was officially established for the United States Navy and described in the following detail:
“The flag for the United States Navy is 4 feet 4 inches hoist by 5 feet 6 inches fly, of dark blue material, with yellow fringe, 2j inches wide. In the center of the flag is a device 3 feet 1 inch overall consisting of the inner pictorial portion of the seal of the Department of the Navy (with the exception that a continuation of the sea has been substituted for the land area), in its proper colors within a circular yellow rope edging, all 2 feet 6 inches in diameter above a yellow scroll inscribed ‘UNITED STATES NAVY’ in dark blue letters.”
In 1957 an official Navy seal had been adopted which reflects the denomination given in the act of 30 April 1798 establishing the Department of the Navy. The seal shows a square-rigged ship, similar to the USF Constitution, with commission pennant atop the foremast, national ensign atop the main, and the commodore’s flag atop the mizzen. In the foreground is a Luce-type anchor and eagle. In the seal, the eagle has one foot resting on the anchor and one on land. In the flag, however, the land has been removed, because the flag is for the Navy only, whereas the seal is for the Navy and the U. S. Marine Corps. The U. S. Marines have their own official flag. Heretofore the U. S. Navy Infantry flag had been used by naval units on ceremonial occasions.
The flag here reproduced was especially painted for the U. S. Naval Institute by D. C. Lynn and is presented through the courtesy of the Department of the Navy.