Naval ceremonies originated as far back as ancient Phoenician and Greek navies, perhaps further.  Common dangers, shared experiences and victories contributed to a sense of camaraderie which binds sailors together with common traditions, proven practices and ancient customs.

The origin of some of the ceremonies, traditions and customs of today's Navy were not always clearly recorded.  Many were derived from ancient customs and laws of the earliest seafarers, passed down through countless generations of sailors, adopted by our Navy more than two hundred years ago, and still practiced toady.  These tried and tested customs have also had a profound influence on the formulation of today's Naval Regulations.

The decommissioning tradition is at least several hundred years old.  The Commissioning Pennant traces its origin to a 17th century sea battle between the Dutch and English.  When Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp, the Dutch admiral, hoisted a broom at his masthead to indicate his intention to sweep the English from the sea, the English admiral William Blake, hoisted a horsewhip, indicating his intention to chastise the insolent Dutchman.  Ever since that time, the narrow, or coach whip pennant symbolizing the original horsewhip, has been the distinctive mark of a vessel of war, adopted by all nations.

The commissioning Pennant is flown at the main by all vessels without an embarked flag officer.  It is blue at the hoist, with a union of seven white stars, red and white at the fly, with two horizontal stripes.

The pennant symbolizes the moment when the life of a ship begins; in USS FORRESTAL's case, on October 1, 1955 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

At the decommissioning ceremony, the Commanding Officer orders the Officer of the Deck to "Haul down the pennants, the jack and the Ensign."  These historic words signal the official retirement of the ship.   In USS FORRESTAL's case this occurred on September 11, 1993 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.