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 John Paul Jones was the first naval commander to glorify the new flag. Jones was given command of the ship Ranger on the same day the flag was adopted by Congress. As he was presented with a flag for his ship at a Fourth of July celebration, Jones spoke these words: "That flag and I are twins, born the same hour. We cannot be parted in life or death. So long as we float we shall float together." Jones's ship flew the flag which received the first salute ever given the Flag of the United States by a foreign fleet. That salute was given by the French fleet in February, 1778. And it was the Ranger, with John Paul Jones in command, which met and conquered the British man-of-war Drake in April, 1778, to carry the Flag of the United States to its first naval victory. |
