Navy Day

Categories:: Federal
Tags:: American Military
Where:: Other
Date change rule:: Every October 27
Holiday emoji:: ⚓

Navy Day arrives every October 27, a dedicated moment to honor the brave men and women of the United States Navy. This unofficial yet widely celebrated observance acknowledges their vital contributions to national defense and global security. Take time to thank a sailor, support military families, or learn about naval history.

History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Observe
Related

History of Navy Day

Navy Day was first celebrated in 1922 by the Navy League of the United States, a civilian nonprofit organization, as a day to pay tribute to the men and women we call sailors. At the time, October 27 was considered by many to be the birthday of the United States Navy, based on a document presented to the Continent Congress on this date in 1775 that supported the purchase of a fleet of merchant ships to form an American colonial navy. October 27 also happens to be the birthday of one of the Navy’s most ardent supporters, President Theodore Roosevelt, who once served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and had supported a Navy Day.

Navy Day was traditionally celebrated with pomp and circumstance between 1922 and 1949. The U.S. Navy participated each year by dispatching ships to various U.S. ports where public celebrations were held. The 1945 celebration was particularly grand and memorable when sitting President Harry S. Truman arrived to review the fleet in New York Harbor.

Navy Day was last officially observed in 1949 when the first Secretary of Defense, Louis A. Johnson, announced that Armed Forces Day would officially replace Navy Day commencing the following year. Johnson designated the third Saturday in May as Armed Forces Day, a joint celebration recognizing all six traditional branches of the U.S. military: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and now the newly created Space Force. As a civilian organization, the Navy League was not affected by Johnson’s directive. They continued to organize events celebrating the original Navy Day on October 27, well attended by both civilians and Navy personnel.

Naval historians conducting research in 1970 determined the authentic birth date of the United States Navy was October 13, 1775. Consequently, the Navy’s birthday was officially changed that year from October 27 to October 13. Despite the official change, Navy Day continues to be widely celebrated on October 27, after being deeply entrenched into Navy tradition for more than a quarter–century.

Navy Day timeline

1775

U.S. Navy established

The Continental Navy was formed on October 13, 1775.

1922

First Navy Day

The first Navy Day is celebrated on October 27, founded by the Navy League of the United States.

1949

Navy Day replaced by Armed Forces Day

The Navy Day is officially celebrated on October 27 for the last time.

1970

U.S. Navy birthday is officially changed

The Navy changes its official birthday from October 27 to October 13, commemorating the formation of the Continental Navy on October 13, 1775,

Navy Day FAQs

When is Navy Day?

Navy Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 27. This annual observance honors the men and women who serve in the United States Navy, recognizing their dedication and sacrifice.

Why is October 27 Navy Day?

October 27 was chosen as Navy Day in 1922 by the Navy League of the United States because it was President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday. Roosevelt, a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was a strong advocate for a powerful U.S. Navy, and the date was seen as a fitting tribute to his legacy.

How large is the U.S. Navy?

As of early 2026, the United States Navy maintains a formidable force, with approximately 340,000 active duty personnel and around 100,000 Ready Reserve personnel. It operates over 290 deployable battle force ships and thousands of aircraft, making it one of the most powerful navies globally.

Is Navy Day an official federal holiday?

No, Navy Day is not an official federal holiday in the United States. While it is widely observed and celebrated by naval personnel, veterans, and supporters, it remains an unofficial observance rather than a day off from work.

How to Observe Navy Day

Thank a sailor for their service
Smile and say “thank you for your service” to the men and women you see in uniform throughout the day. If you know a family with a loved one who is deployed, take time to thank them for their sacrifice while their loved one is serving our country away from home.
Visit a battleship memorial park or museum
We usually think of two well-known decommissioned battleships, the USS Midway in San Diego or the USS Intrepid in New York City, when we hear “battleship museums.” We were surprised to discover there are battleship museums or memorial parks in 30 of the United States. Today would be a swell day to learn more about or plan a visit to one of these permanently anchored retired vessels.
Talk naughty…
Oops! We meant to say, “talk nautical.” We are not suggesting you cuss like a pirate. Try weaving some cool Navy lingo into the family dialog on Navy Day and see what happens. Kids especially enjoy talking nautical, and it gives parents an opportunity to teach youngsters about this fascinating branch of the U.S. military. Here are a few to try: Ahoy — call for attention All hands — the entire ship’s company Bridge — room from which a ship is commanded Davy Jones’ locker — bottom of the sea Helm — steering the wheel of the ship Jacob’s ladder — portable rope Muster — roll call Scuttlebutt — drinking fountain; rumor

Five Nautical Terms Landlubbers Use

Above Board
This term comes from a pirate tactic used to lure unsuspecting vessels to approach the pirate ship under the pretense of commerce opportunities. The pirate captain and several of the crew would masquerade as honest merchantmen, while the rest of the crew hid below the boards behind the bulwark, waiting for the signal to overtake their victims by surprise and seize their vessel. Today we describe someone who is honest and forthright as “above board.”
Mayday
May Day comes from the French word “m’aidez” which translates to English as “help me.” Although first used in 1923, “Mayday” was adopted in 1948 as the international voice radio distress signal for ships and people in serious jeopardy at sea and in the air.
Hunky-Dory
Today we say things are “hunky-dori” when everything is okay. The term comes from a street named “Honki-Dori” in Yokohama, Japan that was popular with sailors. The tenants on Honki-Dori street catered to the lustful pleasures of sailors. The street’s name eventually became synonymous with “pleasurable” or at least “satisfactory.”
Cup of Joe
A cup of Joe is a Naval idiom for coffee. After being appointed Secretary of the Navy in 1913, Josephus Daniels made sweeping changes, including abolishing ship officers’ wine mess, which meant coffee became the strongest drink aboard Navy ships. Over the years a cup of coffee became known as “a cup of Joe.”
Scuttlebutt
Scuttlebutt is nautical jargon for rumors or gossip. Scuttlebutt refers to the place where rumors would often begin on a voyage – around the water cask, called scuttlebutt – which was the equivalent of a drinking fountain in the days of wooden ships. Rumors heard around the scuttlebutt became known as simply “scuttlebutt.”

Why We Love Navy Day

Another opportunity to say thank you
If you missed the opportunity to say thank you or do something special for our sailors or their families on the Navy’s official birthday two weeks ago, Navy Day is your chance for a do-over.
An excuse to get tattooed
Sailors have been getting tattooed for centuries, ever since Captain James Cook's exploration of the Pacific islands exposed seafaring men to Polynesia body art. The Navy tattoo tradition was originally about commemorating historic battles along with military insignia, and of course the names of sweethearts. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to get inked, Navy Day is your best excuse ever. But only if you choose a patriotic tattoo, in the spirit of those early seafaring souls.
Reminds us freedom is not free
We take a lot for granted nowadays. Conflicts between nations or enemy threats rarely touch our nation’s soil or splash our shores. We feel secure when we turn out the light to retire at the end of the day. Navy Day is a gentle reminder to be thankful for the sacrifices of the men and women of all of America’s armed forces for answering the call of duty as they work together to protect and serve our great nation on land, at sea, and by air.