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'''William Conway''' was a quartermaster in the [[Wikipedia:United States Navy|United States (Union) Navy]], on duty when the [[NAS Pensacola|Navy Yard]] was surrendered to the Confederacy on [[January 12]], [[1861]]. When Confederate officer Lieutenant [[Frederick B. Kinshaw]], assuming control of the Yard, ordered Conway to [[Wikipedia:Striking the colors|strike the colors]], he refused to do so, reportedly stating, either "I have served under that flag for forty years, and I won't do it.,"<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=fF4pYIceqwEC&printsec=titlepage ''Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography''], 1888. p. 712.</ref> or "That is the flag of my country. I have given my life to it. I will not haul it down."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=IqvKJzXfq_cC&printsec=titlepage ''Maine, My State'']], 1919. p. 268.</ref> Conway was subsequently jailedfor his indignation.
After his release Conway was commended by the Secretary of the Navy and awarded a gold medal by the State of California. Two U.S. naval [[Wikipedia:Destroyer|destroyer]]s have been named in his honor.
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