City marks 236th anniversary of ‘Grand Union’ flag raised on January 1, 1776 by George Washington on Prospect Hill
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~Photos by Donald Norton

The 236th annual “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park was held on Sunday, January 1, 2012. The annual ceremony commemorates the raising of the nation’s first official flag, featuring thirteen red and white horizontal stripes, atop Prospect Hill on New Year’s Day, 1776. At the time, Prospect Hill was a key site in a string of fortifications created by Washington and the Continental Army in their siege of British troops in Boston during the first year of the American Revolution.

 This year’s celebrations  featured a new addition,  participating for the first time was His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot, he  represented  the British Army and brought a message from King George III. The American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard lead a military salute as a commemorative flag was  raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower.