United States. A Framed Document Authorizing the S.S. Aleutian to Fly the Flag of the United States Merchant Marine Naval Reserve 1930

Top center with an engraved image of an eagle carrying the American flag in its talons over the ocean, with ships are either side, swirls on either side of the eagle's wings indicating movement, inscribed "Navy Department / United States of America / By the authority vested in me by the Congress of the United States, the S.S. Aleutian is hereby warranted to fly the flag of the United States Merchant Marine Naval Reserve as an emblem of the United States Merchant Marine Naval Reserve. / In the event that the S.S. Aleutian is no longer documented under the laws of the United States or the master or commanding officer and fifty per centum of more of her officers are not members of the United States Naval Reserve of her designation by the Secretary of the Navy as suitable for service as a naval auxiliary in time of war is withdrawn, this warrant shall terminate. / The commercial status of the S.S. Aleutian is not changed in any way by this warrant nor by the flying of the United States Merchant Marine Naval Reserve flag nor does this authorization create or signify any obligation on the part of the United States to employ this vessel in any capacity in time of war. / The United States Merchant Marine Naval Reserve flag shall not be flown in lieu of the National Ensign.", dated "19 May 1930" at the lower left, signature of the Acting Secretary of the Navy at the lower right, with the blue embossed seal of the Navy Department of the United States of America between the date and signature, printed in black ink, in running script throughout, the three imprints of the "S.S. Aleutian" and the date in Gothic text, the document sunned throughout, under glass, housed in a 320 mm (w) x 372 mm (h) period wooden frame, holes drilled at the mid-point of the frame on both sides for placement of screws for wall hanging, twenty-seven rusted nails holding the backer in place on the reverse, better than very fine.

Footnote: This S.S. Aleutian was the second ship accorded that name. The first one hit a rock in Uyak Bay, on Kodiak Island in May of 1929, sinking seven minutes later. This second ship was built in 1930, commissioned by the United States Merchant Marine Naval Reserve, and sailed from Seattle to various Alaskan ports, including Kodiak, for the Alaska Steamship Company until the ASC went out of business in the mid-1950's. The S.S. Aleutian was commandeered by the United States military during the Second World War, to haul men and supplies to various Alaskan ports, with gun turrets added for defense against Japanese submarines. The ship also had a very short career taking passengers from the west coast to Hawaii after it retired from its Alaska service.