New Year's Day in Somerville: Celebrate America's First Official Flag

A George Washington re-enactor departs City Hall at 11:30 a.m., and the flag ceremony takes place on Prospect Hill at 12 p.m.

New Year's Day Grand Union Flag Raising Ceremony in Somerville

The first flag of the American colonies was raised on Prospect Hill on New Year's Day in 1776. The annual ceremony in Somerville celebrates that moment.

The following was sent by the city of Somerville: GRAND UNION FLAG RAISING KICKS OFF AT 11:30am ON JANUARY 1ST 237th Flag Raising Commemorated Atop Prospect Hill by City Officials, Residents, and “George Washington” on Horseback. SOMERVILLE - Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Historic Preservation Commission Director Brandon Wilson announced that the 237th annual "Grand Union" flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.  A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m.  As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing.  The annual …

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PHOTOS: Raising the Nation's First Flag

On Jan. 1, 1776, George Washington ordered the the "Grand Union" flag to be raised on Prospect Hill. Somerville celebrated the 236th anniversary of that event on New Year's Day.

The "Grand Union" flag, as it's now called, was the first flag to represent the united colonies of America. On Jan. 1, 1776, George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, ordered the flag to be raised from Prospect Hill in Somerville (Somerville was part of Charlestown then). At the time, the Siege of Boston, sparked by the battles of Lexington and Concord and most well known for the Battle of Bunker Hill, had been taking place for eight months. For many troops in the Continental Army, enlistment was up on Dec. 31, 1775. Morale was low. That same day, British forces sent copies of King George III's speech to Parliament, in which the monarch declared war on the colonies, to the American forces. In response, Washington ordered the …

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George Washington (Reenactor) to Raise Grand Union Flag

On Jan. 1, 1776, Washington's forces raised the Grand Union flag, arguably the nation's first flag, on Prospect Hill. The city will commemorate the 236th anniversary of that moment on New Year's Day.

  The following is from the city of Somerville: SOMERVILLE CELEBRATES RAISING OF FIRST AMERICAN FLAG ON NEW YEAR’S DAY City Marks 236th Anniversary of “Grand Union” Flag Raised on January 1, 1776 by George Washington on Prospect Hill. SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Historic Preservation Commission Director Brandon Wilson announced that the 236th annual “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m. As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing. The annual …

• Photos (1)