At public gatherings when the Navy is an officialparticipantOn other occasions as may be authorized by theSecretary of the NavyWhen used for the purposes listed above, the Navyflag accompanies, and takes the place of honor after, thenational flag. However, when other branches of thearmed forces are participating, the flags takeprecedence in the order of seniority of the servicesrepresented.PERSONAL FLAGS AND PENNANTSEvery Navy ship in commission flies thecommission pennant except when it is replaced by apersonal flag, command pennant, or Red Cross flag.The commission pennant, shown in figure 4-20, is flownat the after truck of a naval vessel and at the highest andmost conspicuous point of hoist on a fixed mastless ship(submarines in particular). It is also flown from the bowof a boat when a commanding officer, not entitled to apersonal flag, is embarked on an official visit.The commission pennant is not a personal flag, butsometimes it is regarded as the personal symbol of thecommanding officer. Along with the ensign and unionjack, it is half-masted upon the death of thecommanding officer of a ship.The Red Cross (Geneva Convention) flag, shown infigure 4-21, is the distinctive mark flown from the aftertruck of a commissioned hospital ship of the Navy. Ingeneral, the Red Cross flag is regarded as aninternational guarantee of amnesty from attack. None ofthe military services, however, fly it on the same halyardas the national ensign. Boats engaged in sanitary serviceand landing party hospital boats display the Red Crossflag in the bow.Some nations in the Middle East regard the cross asa symbol contrary to their religious beliefs. Therefore,they use a design such as a red crescent on a white fieldor a red lion and sun on a white field to indicate amission of mercy or amnesty from attack.No flag or pennant may be flown above or, if on thesame level, to the right of our national flag. Oneexception is the display of flags at the United Nationsheadquarters, where special rules apply. The only otherexception is during church services aboard shipconducted by Navy chaplains or visiting churchdignitaries. Then the church pennant (fig. 4-22) or theJewish worship pennant (fig. 4-23) is flown above theensign. Many ships are fitted with two halyards to thesame point of hoist at both the staff and gaff to permitd i s p l a y o f t h e c h u r c h p e n n a n t a n d e n s i g nsimultaneously.Aboard ships under way, the church pennant isdisplayed by hoisting it to the peak or truck and thendipping the ensign just clear of it. If services are being4-27Student Notes:Figure 4-22.—Church pennant.Figure 4-20.—Commission pennant.Figure 4-21.—Red Cross flag.Figure 4-23.—Jewish worship pennant.
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