John Paul Jones, was heard to say, "I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike," during the Battle of Flamborough Head, September 23, 1779. Jones, in his ship, "Bonhomme Richard," took on the larger British man of war "Serapis" in the most storied sea battle of the American Revolution. When the captain of the Serapis, Richard Pearson, asked if Jones would strike his colors and surrender, he was anwered with cannon fire. In the end, it was Pearson who struck, and surrendered the Serapis to Jones.
On the front of the shirt is the "Serapis Flag," which was registered as the official United States flag with the Dutch in 1779, in order to keep Jones from being hung by the British as a pirate.
