Don't Give up the Ship

Captain James Lawrence's famous last words, "Don't give up the ship," were spoken after he was mortally wounded in a battle against HMS Shannon, during the War of 1812. He died days later, but his phrase became a rallying cry for the U.S. Navy. His friend Oliver Hazard Perry later had the words sewn onto a battle flag, which he carried into the Battle of Lake Erie. The motto remains a symbol of perseverance and naval heritage.