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This variation of the quote is the only one I can find solid source for.
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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 Confederates a 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, "That is the flag of my country. I have served under that flag for forty years, and I won't do it all ."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=fF4pYIceqwEC&printsec=titlepage ''Appletons' Cyclopædia of my lifeAmerican Biography''], 1888. I will not haul it down p."712. </ref> Conway was subsequently jailed.
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]]shave been named in his honor.
==Notes==