Retired Submariner Commemorates Both Bicentennial, Semiquincentennial in Guam

Fifty years after raising the national colors in Guam for America’s bicentennial, retired Navy Cmdr. Allan Riggs returned to the island July 4 to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday alongside a new generation of submariners.

Riggs has now participated in morning colors from Guam during both America’s 200th and 250th birthday celebrations, a distinction spanning half a century of submarine history.

Now 77, Riggs stood alongside the duty officer aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Annapolis as the national ensign was raised over the submarine.

“I served proudly for 27 years,” Riggs said. “I’m proud of the country; I’m proud of where it’s going, and I’m honored to be able to do this.”

On July 4, 1976, then-Navy Lt. j.g. Riggs was serving as the duty officer aboard the ballistic-missile submarine USS Theodore Roosevelt in Guam. That morning, he had the distinct honor of raising the national colors in recognition of America’s bicentennial.

Serving in what he described as a symbolic location, the Roosevelt was the first submarine to raise the colors that historic morning in Guam, where America’s day begins.

“It will remain one of the most profound privileges of my career to have executed morning colors on that historic morning in such a symbolically significant location,” Riggs said.

Exactly 50 years later, Riggs returned to the same island to honor that moment and mark another milestone in the nation’s history.

When he approached Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, with the idea of returning to Guam for the historic anniversary, Navy Capt. Neil Steinhagen immediately recognized the significance of the occasion.

“Having Cmdr. Riggs as a guest aboard [the] Annapolis was an easy decision to support,” Steinhagen said. “We often look back on our history and ask what has carried our nation and our Navy forward. Moments like this provide the answer. Morning colors is a tradition observed every day, but on the Fourth of July, the flag represents the freedom generations before us fought to secure and the promise today’s sailors have volunteered to defend. By standing together aboard [the] Annapolis on America’s 250th birthday, we united the legacy of those who came before us with the future leaders who will carry that fighting spirit forward.”

For Riggs, returning to the place where he marked the nation’s bicentennial offered an opportunity to connect two generations of submariners and reflect on a lifetime of service.

“This is a deeply meaningful opportunity to honor the enduring traditions of the submarine force, reflect on my service and pay tribute to the ongoing legacy of naval excellence in the Pacific,” the Ohio native said.

Following morning colors, the color detail presented Riggs with the flag flown. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Derrick Simmons, the submarine’s executive officer, also presented him with a commemorative flag certificate honoring the lasting example of his service.

The certificate stated that Riggs’ presence served as a lasting reminder that while generations of submariners may change their devotion to duty, honor and country remain eternal.

The moment represented more than a celebration of the nation’s birthday. It served as a reminder that the traditions of the submarine force are carried forward by the sailors who serve, the families who stand beside them and the generations who follow in their footsteps.

For Riggs, the day also provided an opportunity to recognize those who made his return possible — and those who supported him throughout his 27 years of naval service.

“I want to thank the people who helped make this possible,” he said. “My wife supported me throughout all my years of service, as did my sons and all the people here at Submarine Squadron 15. This is the finest military in the world. We’re doing what needs to be done, and we’re going where we need to go. Being here alongside [the] USS Annapolis, a superb U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine, is an honor.”

Fifty years after raising the colors for America’s bicentennial, Riggs once again stood beneath the flag he proudly served — this time alongside a new generation of submariners continuing the watch.