Commander’s Salute
Navy Cmdr. Crystal L. Schaefer, commanding officer of the USS Constitution, salutes the ensign as she boards “Old Ironsides” for a turnaround cruise to celebrate Independence Day in Boston, July 4, 2024. The Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.