Display Flags for National Maritime Day

National Maritime Day is observed each year on May 22 as a time-honored tradition that recognizes one of our country’s most important industries. The United States has been a longstanding maritime nation bounded by two oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and traversed by inland waterways. From our roots as a free country onward through every conflict and period of peace since, the maritime industry, including merchant mariners have been pillars in supporting this country’s commerce and national security. The men and women, who crew ships, power the world’s largest economy and cement our ties with trading partners around the world. Merchant mariners also protect our homeland by shipping troops and supplies wherever they need to go, often heading into war zones and even sacrificing their lives. They even maintain our eyes and ears on the sea. President Donald Trump proclaims May 22, 2017, as National Maritime Day and calls upon the people of the United States to display the US flag in their home and communities, as well as requests that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.