In 2005, my sister, who is much smarter and talented than me, was applying for college. The market had markedly changed since my college applications of 9 years earlier, where I applied to ten colleges and got in to nine. Her applications, had not yielded and acceptance, and in fact she had received multiple rejections. She was down hearted and, of course, I wanted to cheer her up. Being an amateur vexillologist, my mind immediately went to the Commodore Perry Flag.
On June 1, 1813, the USS Chesapeake set sail from Boston under the command of Capt. James Lawrence. The ship was immediately engaged in battle with the British frigate Shannon. During the battle, Captain Lawrence was mortally wounded by small arms fire, and in one of his last moments of consciousness, gave the following order to his men, “Tell the men to fire faster! Don’t give up the ship!”
His friend, Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, ordered a battle flag to remember and commemorate Capt. Lawrence’s final words. The flag is deep navy blue and is emblazoned with the phrase “Don’t Give Up The Ship”. Commodore Perry’s flag lives on today and is displayed at the United States Naval Academy.
Turing back to 2005, my sister did just fine, getting accepted in to an excellent college and going on to master her studies.
Captain Lawrence’s battle cry seems very appropriate to me these days. We are in the middle of an electoral battle. We’re in the middle of a pandemic which has seen millions of people around the world infected with COVID-19. We’re all a but stir crazy from the isolation and changes we’re making to fight the spread of the disease.
My sister was kind enough to lend me the flag I gave her fifteen years ago and today, it flies on my flag pole.
Don’t Give Up The Ship
Cruesbreck Flags 