Navy flies Buddhist flag aboard ship for first time
By Jonathan Lehrfeld
Thursday, Sep 15
A Buddhist pennant appeared on a Navy ship earlier this week for the first time in the sea service’s history, the Navy announced.
The blue and white flag became one of the four official Navy religious pennants after U.S. Fleet Forces Command chaplain Capt. Brian Stamm put the banner into service in August.
The flag, which consists of a blue wheel of dharma symbol — or, Dharmachakra — against a white backdrop, first flew on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer McFaul on Sept. 11 in observance of a Buddhist Dharma service held aboard the vessel. Navy regulations stipulate that religious flags be flown above the ensign during services.
“I want to share this special moment with my sailors and fellow Buddhist practitioners,” said Navy Chaplain Lt. Saejeong Kim, who led the service and is the only active-duty Buddhist chaplain in the service.
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2022/09/15/navy-flies-buddhist-flag-aboard-ship-for-first-time/