# State flags, the beautiful, cool and ugly ones. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-flags-the-beautiful-cool-and-ugly-ones/202779 "2003-09-20T06:52:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-flags-the-beautiful-cool-and-ugly-ones/202779/41 "2003-09-22T14:43:33Z")
As someone earlier mentioned, my home state’s flag (VA) has nudity and violence on it - you can’t get much better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-flags-the-beautiful-cool-and-ugly-ones/202779/42 "2003-09-22T14:51:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\*And I know it’s not a state flag, but my all-time favorite is the “Don’t Tread On Me” snake flag. That one should replace the stars and stripes. \*\* You’ll be happy to know that, for the duration of the current war, the referenced flag, aka the first Navy jack, will be flown from the bows of all U.S. Navy warships. \*\*SECNAVINST 10520.6 N09B1 31 May 2002 SECNAV INSTRUCTION 10520.6 From: Secretary of the Navy To: All Ships and Stations (less Marine Corps field addressees not having Navy personnel attached) Subj: DISPLAY OF THE FIRST NAVY JACK DURING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM Ref: (a) U. S. Navy Regulations, 1990 1. Purpose. To provide for the display of the first navy Jack on board all U. S. Navy ships during the Global War on Terrorism. 2. Discussion. As the first ships of the Continental Navy readied in the Delaware River during the fall of 1775, Commodore Esek Hopkins issued a set of fleet signals. His signal for the “whole Fleet to Engage” the enemy provided for the “strip’d Jack and Ensign at their proper places.” Thus, from the very beginning of our Navy, the Jack has been used on board American warships. The first navy Jack was a flag consisting of 13 horizontal alternating red and white stripes bearing diagonally across them a rattlesnake in a moving position with the motto “Don’t Tread On Me.” The temporary substitution of this Jack represents an historic reminder of the nation’s and Navy’s origin and will to persevere and triumph. 3. Action. The first navy jack will be displayed on board all U. S. Navy ships in lieu of the Union Jack, in accordance with sections 1259 and 1264 of reference (a). The display of the first Navy Jack is an authorized exception to section 1258 of reference (a). Ships and craft of the Navy authorized to fly the first Navy Jack will receive an issue of four flags per ship through a special distribution. Gordon R. England Distribution: SNDL Parts 1 and 2 \*\* The Union Jack referenced refers not to the British national flag, but to the blue starred field of the American flag, which is flown from the jackstaff of a naval ship at pier or anchor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-flags-the-beautiful-cool-and-ugly-ones/202779.md?page=2)