Archived Scripts, Speeches, and Messages

Top Line Message: The 242nd Birthday of the United States Navy honors the brave men and women who conduct a wide range of combat, training, humanitarian, rescue and other missions worldwide, protecting our interests, promoting our security, and helping to shape our nation’s history and culture.

Messages/Talking Points:

Since our nation was founded, the Navy has deployed to defend American interests and values around the world.

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on October 13, 1775, by authorizing the procurement, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America.
The Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1789, empowered Congress "to provide and maintain a navy." Acting on this authority, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates in 1794. USS Constitution, one of the first six frigates, remains a commissioned warship today and is homeported in Boston, Mass.
In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized recognition of October 13 as the Navy's Birthday. Since then, each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion "to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service."

The Navy’s forward-deployed, presence allows us to protect and promote U.S. interests world-wide.

Since its earliest days, the U.S. Navy has deployed forward to deter our adversaries and fight and win if deterrence fails, in order to safeguard our interests and preserve our way of life.
In today’s increasingly complex global security environment, the Navy continues to provide constant forward-presence in areas where our interests are being challenged, including the Persian Gulf, South and East China Seas, Red Sea, North Atlantic and beyond.
As Russia, China and Iran and other foreign adversaries strive to match and outpace the capabilities of our fleet, it is imperative that we continue to grow, develop and innovate to maintain maritime superiority.

The Navy protects global shipping in support of U.S. economic growth and prosperity.

Economic prosperity is the cornerstone of American security, making the free flow of commerce a critical component of our national defense.
Deployed globally, the U.S. Navy has maintained freedom of the seas, protecting the open exchange of goods and promoting and American values of freedom and liberty.
Roughly 90 percent of all world trade is conducted on the seas, and a strong, capable force essential to our ability to protect shipping lanes.
International stability, supported by the Navy’s forward-deployed global forces, enables economic prosperity and growth – at home and around the world.

75th Anniversary of WWII in the Pacific

During World War II, the United States Navy cemented its worldwide, maritime superiority through global presence.
Navy’s World War II naval superiority continues today: Globally deployed American Sailors deliver security, influence and responsiveness worldwide.
For the past 75 years, the U.S. Navy’s constant global presence ensures security and stability for our allies as well as prosperity worldwide.
More than battles and bullets, our Sailors’ toughness, initiative, accountability, and integrity made us victorious.
Inspired by the same attributes as “The Greatest Generation,” today’s Sailors and civilians carry on a two-century tradition of warfighting excellence, adaptation and resilience.

Additional Internal Planning Documents: For additional details on the 242^nd Navy Birthday, including the full communication plan and boxtop, please visit the CAC-enabled CHINFO portal site:

242nd Navy Birthday COMPLAN

242nd Navy Birthday Boxtop

Archived from the 241^st Navy Birthday, 2016

USFF's Navy Birthday Narrative/Talking Points

USFF's Navy 241 Birthday Speech

Navy Leadership Birthday Messages

Letter from the Chief of Naval Operations (Download PDF)

Message from the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Watch on YouTube)

Archived from the 240^th Navy Birthday, 2015

Navy Birthday Speech

Navy Birthday Speech

Navy Leadership Birthday Messages (Text)

Please be advised that the White House has strict guidelines governing the use of Presidential Messages. The President's Navy Birthday Message may only be used for the specific date and purpose for which it was provided (Navy Birthday 2015). This letter may be read aloud and used for display. Please forward a copy of any printed or electronic material in which this message is used to the Office of Presidential Correspondence at the White House, Washington, D.C. 20502. Any unauthorized use or display of this message or White House letterhead is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Director of Presidential Correspondence.

Please also note the following non comprehensive list of actions that are expressly prohibited: alteration of this message; sale of this message; and use of this message for fundraising, recruiting, advertising, solicitation, promotion, or as an endorsement of any individual, entity, organization, or unit of government. These prohibitions apply in all forms of communication, including, but not limited to electronic, print, and/or display on website.

President Obama

SECNAV

CNO

MCPON

CHINFO (Navy birthday speech delivered by Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler at the Oregon State University NROTC Fall Ball)

Navy Leadership Video Birthday Messages

SECNAV's Navy Birthday Video Message is available for download through DVIDS, while a sharable version is available on YouTube.

CNO and MCPON's Navy Birthday Video Message is available for download through DVIDS, while a sharable version is available on YouTube.

Published: Wed Feb 01 15:48:45 EST 2023

Naval History and Heritage Command

Footnotes