"Anchors Aweigh," the official song of the U.S. Navy, debuted on December 1, 1906, at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia. Composed by Naval Bandmaster Lieutenant Charles "Chas" Zimmermann with lyrics by Midshipman Alfred Hart Miles, the song was a heartfelt dedication to the Naval Academy Class of 1907. Miles drew inspiration from the phrase "anchors aweigh," a symbol of the start of a ship's journey. On April 12, 1910, Congress promoted Zimmermann to Second Lieutenant in the Marine Cor