SPECIAL CEREMONIES, ANNIVERSARIES AND SOLEMNITIES

1281. Ships passing Washington’s Tomb. When a ship of the Navy is passing Washington’s
tomb, Mount Vernon, Virginia, between sunrise and sunset, the following ceremonies shall be
observed insofar as maybe practicable:

1. The full guard and band shall be paraded, the bell tolled, and the national ensign halfmasted at the beginning of the tolling of the bell.
2. When opposite Washington’s tomb, the guard shall present arms, persons on deck shall salute, facing in the direction of the tomb, and “Taps’” shall be sounded.
3. The national ensign shall be hoisted to the truck or peak and the tolling shall cease at the last note of “Taps,” after which the National Anthem shall be played.
4. Upon completion of the National Anthem, “Carry on” shall be sounded. 

1282. Ships passing USS ARIZONA Memorial. When a ship of the Navy is passing the USS ARIZONA Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, between sunrise and sunset, passing honors consisting of sounding “Attention” and rendering the hand salute by all persons in view on deck and not in ranks shall be executed by that ship.

1283. National holidays.

1. The following shall be observed as holidays on board :ships of the Navy and at naval stations and activities: New Year’s Day, the 1st of January Martin Luther King Day, the third Monday in January; President’s Day, the third Monday in February, Memorial Day, the last Monday in May; Independence Day, the 4th of July; Labor Day, the first Monday in October; Veterans Day, the 1lth of November; Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day, the 25th of December; and such other days as may be designated by the President.
2. Whenever any of the above-designated dates falls on Saturday, the preceding day shall be observed as a holiday, and whenever such date falls on Sunday, the following day shall be observed.

1284. Ceremonies for national holidays.

1. On President’s Day and on Independence Day, every ship of the Navy in commission, not under way, shall full-dress ship. At noon each saluting ship, and each naval station equipped with a saluting battery, shall fire a national salute of 21 guns.
2. On Memorial Day, each saluting ship and each naval station having a saluting battery shall fire at noon a salute of 21 minute-guns. All ships and naval stations shall display the national ensign at half-mast from 0800 until the completion of the salute or until 1220 if no salute is fired or to’be fired.
3. When the 4th of July occurs on Sunday, all special ceremonies shall be postponed until the following day.

1285. Foreign participation in United States national anniversaries and solemnities.

1. Prior to celebrating a United States national anniversary, or observing a national solemnity, in a foreign place or in the presence of foreign warships, the senior officer present of the United States naval service shall give due notice to the foreign port authorities, and to the senior officer of each nationality present, of the time and manner of conducting the celebration or solemnity, and shall, as appropriate, invite their participation therein. An officer shall be sent to thank the foreign authorities or ships which participate in such celebration or solemnity.
2. When foreign troops participate in parades within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, they shall be assigned a position of honor ahead of United States troops, except that a small detachment of United States troops will immediately precede the foreign troops as a guard of honor.
3. On occasions when troops of two or more foreign nations participate, the troops of the nation in whose honor the parade is held will be assigned a position ahead of all others, otherwise the order of precedence among foreign troops will be determined, as appropriate by:
   1. The relative ranks of the commanders of the forces from which the parade detachments are drawn; or
   2. The relative ranks of the commanders of the parade detachments; or
   3. The alphabetical order in the English language of the names of the nations concerned.

1286. Observance of foreign anniversaries and solemnities.

1. In a foreign place, or when in company with a foreign warship, when a national anniversary or solemnity is being observed by foreign port authorities or a foreign warship, a ship of the Navy shall, upon official invitation, follow the example of the foreign authority or warship in full-dressing or dressing ship, firing salutes, and half-masting ensigns. Salutes shall not exceed 21 guns unless the senior officer present deems it proper to fire a larger number in order to participate properly in the ceremony or to avoid giving offense. Upon all such occasions, efforts shall be made to accord, so far as practicable, with the foreign authorities in the time and manner of conducting the ceremonies.
2. Uniform accoutrements of mourning, including mourning badges or bands, may be worn on the uniform when appropriate, or when directed by competent authority, by persons in the naval service who are stationed in, or who are officially visiting, a foreign nation during the period of foreign government ordains as the period of national mourning.