The Department of the Navy Seal was created in 1957. It serves as the main feature of the official US Navy flag. The earliest ships in the Navy carried a variety of flags including the striped Grand Union and those bearing a pine tree or a rattlesnake. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the Infantry Battalion flag was used by naval landing forces. This was a blue flag with a whited diamond in the center. A blue foul anchor was superimposed on the diamond. The official Navy flag was authorized by Presidential order in April of 1959. It consists of a dark blue background with the seal of the Department of the Navy in the center within a circular yellow rope edging. The seal is positioned above a yellow scroll inscribed "United States Navy" in dark blue letters. It is reserved for display purposes and is carried by an honor guard for ceremonial occasions. Navy vessels fly the national ensign, commisson pennant, union jack, and admiral's broad pennant from gaff, mast, or staff.