Navy Day
October 27 @ 12:00 am - 11:30 pm UTC-5
What is the difference between Navy Day and the Navy Birthday? Both occur in the month of October, and both celebrate the men and women of the United States Navy, past and present. The Navy celebrates its birthday officially on Oct. 13, and Navy Day was established to be observed on Oct. 27.
here are plenty of differences between the two, starting with the fact that the Navy Birthday is recognized on the anniversary of the historical formation of the Continental Navy during the American Revolution. Navy Day was originally chosen to coincide with the birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Which Came First?
Navy Day is actually the older observance, in terms of when it was created and officially recognized as it is today. The “official” observation of the Navy birthday was initiated by Admiral Elmo Zumwalt in 1972, but Navy Day was sponsored by the Navy League of New York in 1922.
While both holidays recognize the service and sacrifices of those in uniform, Navy Day is specifically about military service, where the Navy birthday celebrates the origins and history of the U.S. Navy.
Navy Day isn’t unique to the American military. Many countries worldwide celebrate their own versions on different dates and with different traditions. Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, India, Croatia, Mexico, and many other nations all hold their own observations.
How Navy Day Is Observed In The United States
Much of what passes for a celebration of Navy Day in modern times doesn’t really happen specifically on Oct. 27th. Even the Navy League, which initiated the holiday in 1922, doesn’t have much in the way of a specific reference to it on events calendars on its official site. But that doesn’t mean that the Navy isn’t given the appropriate amount of respect it’s due by the military, its supporters, and taxpayers with a formal recognition day
Is Navy Day An Official Government Holiday?
Navy Day isn’t observed in quite the same manner as a federal holiday. There are no official closures, retreat ceremonies at military cemeteries, or other planned activities that mark occasions such as POW/MIA Day or Memorial Day.
Officially, Armed Forces Day replaced Navy Day in 1949 by order of the first Secretary of Defense, Louis A. Johnson, likely done to recognize those in uniform regardless of service affiliation, but Navy Day may still be observed at the base level and in local communities keen to recognize the service of current and former sailors.