Apparently, it has become a thing in the U.S. Navy for ships to fly larger and larger flags on certain occasions. These might be Old Glory or a flag related to the specific ship flying it. They are getting larger and larger too.
This video gives a marvelous example of that growing tradition. There is very little dialogue in this video, just an occasional ship-to-ship radio communication, but the large share of it is simply a visual delight.
The ship flying the humongous Stars and Bars, coming into San Diego Bay, is the USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. The flag is huge and fully unfurled off her port side. This is kind of the modern equivalent of the old sailing ships being “dressed to the nines.” It is quite a sight.
At one point, the USS Murphy passes an outbound littoral combat ship, and her flag nearly obscures that ship, the USS Independence (LCS-2), the lead ship of the Independence-class littoral combat ships.
The USS Murphy is named after Michael Murphy, the Navy Seal who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Afghanistan that have been turned into a book and a powerful movie called Lone Survivor.
Enjoy this video. It needs no more explanation. What you see is what you get.
We wish Fair Winds and Following Seas to all of our United States Navy ships and crews.