Erie Group Donates Giant Flag to Naval Academy
A 100-by-60-foot commemorative "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag marks the nation's 250th anniversary.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Philanthropy
A group from Erie, Pennsylvania, donated a 100-by-60-foot commemorative "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. The Academy plans to rehearse and unfurl the flag, which may be displayed at one of its football games.
Why it matters
The flag was donated to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation, linking the Academy's traditions to the founding era. The phrase it carries dates to an 1813 naval battle, and its display would give the public a visible tie to that history.
The flag measures 100 feet by 60 feet, making it a large-scale commemorative piece. The phrase "Don't Give Up the Ship" has been used as an inspirational rallying cry for more than 200 years, and the timing of any unfurling and display remains unconfirmed.
The players
U.S. Naval Academy
The U.S. Naval Academy is the federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland, that trains officers for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Captain James Lawrence
Captain James Lawrence was a U.S. Navy officer whose 1813 rallying cry, "Don't Give Up the Ship," became a lasting American naval phrase.
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was a U.S. Navy officer who led American forces at the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie.
The details
The Erie, Pennsylvania group toured the Naval Academy campus before donating the flag. The Academy will conduct rehearsals with the flag before unfurling it, and the phrase traces to Captain James Lawrence's 1813 rallying cry in a battle against the British, later made into a flag used by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry at the Battle of Lake Erie.
Timeline
1813: Captain James Lawrence's "Don't Give Up the Ship" rallying cry is associated with a naval battle against the British.
2026: The flag is donated to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation.
Legacy Thread
The flag carries forward the same phrase Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry flew at the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie. The donation extends that wartime banner into the nation's 250th-anniversary commemorations.
Visitors interested in seeing the flag should watch for announcements of the rehearsal and unfurling schedule at the Academy. Football-game attendees may want to check whether the flag will be displayed before planning a visit around it.
The takeaway
Donations of historic symbols can carry a nation's past into its current commemorations. Readers interested in such gifts can follow how institutions announce and display them.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how donations like this one are structured and reported.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Weny.
