In days of sail, when a sailor would check onboard ship, he was usually part of that ship's company for his whole career. As he travelled around the world, he would collect many trinkets and souveniers of his travels. Since he lived full time on the ship, and space was limited, obviously he collected small items which he could easily store on board.
When the sailor was piped ashore, his shipmates used to chip in to have a wooden trunk made for the sailor to put his stuff in for his last time down the gangway.
This tradition has evolved to the present shadowbox, which should contain momentos of the retiree's career. Medals, duty stations, insignia, rating badges ... a shadowbox should enable anyone looking at it to know the person's history at a glance.
Every single retiree, whether he is an E5 or O5 deserves a shadowbox. As leaders, we should make sure that this happens! This seems to slip through the cracks for some of our junior Sailors, possibly because their peers don't have any money. Lets make it a priority to make sure that EVERYONE who retires gets his or her shadowbox. GO MUSTANGS, leading by example!
What is the origin of TAPS?
Thanks to the late Bruce Kesinger for this. I've gotten a few emails saying this story is not true, but it's a good legend, so I've decided to leave it here. If you want to read a more historically accurate version of how TAPS was written, click here. It was written by Ralph Haas, a military historian.
THE STORY BEHIND "TAPS"
lt all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert
Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The
Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay
mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate
soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man
back for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the
stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the
Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a
Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The captain lit a lantern.
Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light,
he saw the face of the soldier. It was his son. The boy had been studying
music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he
enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status.
His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a
group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral.
That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one
musician. The captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series
of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead
son's uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody
we now know as "Taps" that is used at all military funerals.
In case you are interested, these are the words to "TAPS":
Day is done,
Gone the sun,
From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest. God is nigh.
The Silver Dollar Salute
Why do newly commissioned Officers give a Silver Dollar to the recipient of their first salute? This long standing
tradition doesn't seem to be documented in any Navy publications.
It apparently started sometime in the 19th century with the Army.
It is said that
you have to buy your first salute and then earn every salute there
after through your performance and by gaining the respect of your
subordinates. The Navy adopted the tradition some time prior to WW II and
today the tradition is considered a way to show respect for those superior
enlisted personnel who helped you achieve your commissioned status. I don't know how precise this theory is, but this is what I tell those who ask.
What is meant by "Piping the Side" and the origin of "Sideboys"
The custom of "piping" a distinguished visitor "over the side" dates
to the time of wooden ships when senior officers would come alongside
a ship in their small launches. As the launch approached the ship,
the Boatswain (the boatswain, bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is the warrant
or petty officer in charge of a ship's deck crew, rigging, cables and
anchors) would use his pipe to muster a crew of men to assist the
senior officer in coming aboard. Hence, the term, "piping."
A sling
would be lowered to the launch, the officer would be strapped in and
hoisted to the quarter-deck of the ship. As the seniority of the
officer often was an indication of his bulk, the more senior the
officer, the larger the number of men that would be assigned to hoist
him aboard and lift him "over the side" of the ship. Once on the
quarter-deck, the assembled crew would take their stations on either
side of the officer, lifting him out of the sling and gently placing
him on the deck. The men assigned to this duty were usually very junior sailors, or 'boys', Hence, the term, "sideboy."
The same procedure was
used in reverse when the officer lift the ship and returned to his
launch.
Today, while distinguished visitors are not hoisted aboard ship, the
Bos'n Mate can still be heard piping senior officers aboard and ashore
as assembled crew members act as sideboys.
**Note: In the interest of political correctness, there
are some who have referred to female sideboys as "sidepersons", or worse yet, calling the whole group "side bouys", as though they were a bunch of bell bouys ringing in midchannel. Lets ensure that the traditional 'sideboy' always remains the correct term.
Why is a Ship called "She"?
"A ship is called a she because there’s always a great deal of bustle around her...because there's
usually a gang of men around... because she has waist and stays...because she takes a lot of paint
to keep her looking good...because it’s not the initial expense that breaks you, it’s the upkeep...
because she is all decked out... because it takes a good man to handle her right...because she
shows her topside, hides her bottom and, when coming into port, always heads for the buoys."
George Moses in Falmouth, Massachusetts
Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz put it more succinctly in an address to the Society of Sponsors of the
United States Navy. "A ship is always referred to as 'she' because it costs so much to keep one in
paint and powder."
When you use the 50 State flags in a ceremonial occasion, what order do you line them up in?
When more than one State flag is displayed, they are arranged in either the order of precedence by the date
the State was admitted to the Union, or alphabetically. Keep all State flags on the same
size staffs.
Order of Admittance.
Flag Folding
The significance of why we fold the American Flag as we do. Click HERE!
Medal of Honor
There is no basis in fact that enlisted men holding the Medal of Honor are entitled to a salute
from officers. Although it is customary for the junior to initiate the exchange of salutes, it is
completely proper for the superior to salute first. It's possible that after some commanding
officer saluted a Medal of Honor winner, the word got around that this was expected of all
other officers in the command.
"Officer and a Gentleman"
Many chuckle over the phrase "an officer and gentleman by act of Congress." However, military
tradition dictates that an officer is expected to act like a gentleman. In early armies, military
leadership was a monopoly of the nobility or "gentlemen." Officer rank is now bestowed on the basis
of merit, but those chosen are still expected to act like gentlemen. An officer's commission carries
with it the obligation to act in a "gentlemanly way." For example, in military law an officer can be
court-martialed for "ungentlemanly conduct," whereas an enlisted person cannot.
The Domain of the Golden Dragon
In the last century, before Westpac's were common place, it was a very uncommon occurance to cross the International Date Line. This event was marked with a ceremony very much like the Crossing the Line (Equator) ceremony. You were entering the Domain of the Golden Dragon, so called because of your destination was most likely the orient.
Shellback Ceremony
The boisterous ceremonies of "crossing the line" are
ancient and their derivation is lost. It is well known that ceremonies took
place long ago when the ship crossed the equator, as well as other 'lines", such as the 180th parallel, the thirtieth parallel, and also when
going through the Straits of Gibraltar. Early ceremonies were rough and to a
great extent supposed to try the crew to determine whether or not the novices
on their first cruise could endure the hardships of life at sea. The custom
then, as at present, is primarily a crew's party.
The Vikings were reported at an early date to carry out these ceremonies
on crossing certain parallels. It is highly probable that the present day
ceremony was passed on to the Anglo-Saxtons, and Normans from the
Vikings. As at earlier times, the ceremonies are carried on to
appease Neptune, the mythological god of the seas. Those who have crossed
the equator are called SHELLBACKS. These Sons of Neptune compose
the cast for the present day ceremonies.
Wetting Down
In the old Navy, an officer's commission was hand-written on heavy parchment. According to
some sources, the newly commissioned or promoted officer held a dinner for his shipmates and
friends. During the course of the evening, the new commission was rolled into a cone, the small end
folded up to form a cup. This paper cup was passed around the table for all the guests to toast the
new officer. Thus, the new commission was "wetted down." Considering the importance of the
document, however, this interpretation may be doubtful. Commissions in the early U.S. Navy were
signed and issued by the President and were of great legal and personal value.
According to other sources, the wetting down party was once quite a rough and tumble affair.
It was the custom for the officer to wear his new uniform or stripes for the first time at the wetting
down. The guests would then proceed to christen the uniform, the occupant, and the commission
with whatever liquid refreshment (paid for by the victim) was available. Over the years, however,
Navy life has became more calm, the price of gold braid has skyrocketed and a literal christening is
not usually condoned.
A Wetting Down is still an honored and expected tradition, however. You are expected to stand for drinks for the wardroom upon each promotion. It is considered very ill form to forego the tradition!
