Passing Honors, National Anniversaries, and Solemnities
In May 1801, as the frigate Congress passed Mount Vernon shortly after the death of George Washington, Commodore Charles Morris noted in his autobiography that “the sails were lowered, the colors displayed half-masted, and a mourning salute of thirteen guns was fired as a mark of respect to the memory of Washington, whose life had so recently closed, and whose tomb was in our view.”
Naval honors to George Washington became official on 2 June 1906 with General Order No. 22. They are set forth in Article 1281 of the U.S. Navy Regulations. At the tolling of the ship's bell, a full color guard and ship's band (if present on board) are paraded, and the national ensign is lowered to half mast. When the vessel is opposite of Washington's tomb, the guard presents arms, all personnel on deck render hand salutes in the tomb's direction, and "Taps" is sounded. At the last note of "Taps," the bell ceases tolling, the ensign is hoisted, and the "National Anthem" is played.
Passing honors are observed when a ship passes the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor between sunrise and sunset. These are set forth in Article 1282 of the U.S. Navy Regulations and consist of a call to "Attention" of all personnel on deck, who render hand salutes to the memorial.
Passing honors occur between ships when one ship displays the flag or pennant of an official or officer, such as the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Under Secretary of Defense, and Assistant Secretary of Defense; other U.S. military officials; foreign officials, dignitaries, or officers; and the flag or standard of a foreign president or the sovereign or member of a reigning royal family. For a complete list of passing honor protocols, see OPNAVINST 1710.7A.
Navy ships also honor the national holidays of Presidents Day, Independence Day, and Memorial Day with ceremonies specific to each event:
On Presidents Day and on Independence Day, every ship of the Navy in commission, not underway, executes a full-dress ship. At noon, each saluting ship, and each naval station equipped with a saluting battery, fires a national salute of 21 guns.
On Memorial Day, each saluting ship and each naval station having a saluting battery fires a salute of 21 minute-guns at noon. All ships and naval stations display the national ensign at half-mast from 0800 until the completion of the salute or until 1220 if no salute is fired or to be fired.
Additional Resources
Manning the Rails: A Navy Tradition
Origins of the Twenty-One Gun Salute
Selected Imagery (click image to download)
