The City of Somerville celebrated the 244th anniversary of the raising of the Grand Union Flag on January 1. — Photos by Shira Laucharoen

By Shira Laucharoen

Ringing in the New Year with aplomb, the City of Somerville held its annual tradition of raising the Grand Union flag at Prospect Hill Tower, on January 1. The reenactment ceremony, which has been held since the year 2000, honored the 244th anniversary of the hoisting of the flag, which was said to have been the nation’s first official one.

The commemoration began with a procession from City Hall, led by a costumed George Washington on horseback, up to Prospect Hill Park. There, Councilor At-Large Will Mbah described how the flag represents “a beautiful symbol” of history, offering inspiration, even in a contemporary context, and inviting spectators to remember the country’s past.

“No matter how humble or how different our origins, if we keep our ideals and unity, then we shall indeed create a more perfect union,” said Mbah.

As militia men and participants in 18th century garb stood by, Chaplain Matthew Mees gave an invocation, while City Council President and Ward 7 Councilor Katjana Ballantyne explained how the flag was once “raised in a time of uncertainty, a symbol of hope for a better future.” She said that it was important to honor the tradition in modern times, while citizens are “fighting for values today, as ordinary people willing to speak out, to challenge injustice.”

Executive Director of the Historic Preservation Commission Brandon Wilson introduced speakers who elaborated on the historic background of the tradition.

On January 1, 1776, George Washington ordered the first American flag to be raised on the mast of a ship at Prospect Hill. The banner preceded the flag that we know today and featured a British Union Jack in its canton, accompanied by 13 red and white stripes.

Americans had been fighting for their emancipation from England, and the Siege of Boston had been going on for eight months, before Washington requested that the flag be created. It was hoisted to represent colonial unity and remind the British of the new nation’s commitment to independence.

The origins of what is believed to be the country’s first flag are still somewhat enveloped in mystery. Scholars like Peter Ansoff, who wrote the paper The Flag on Prospect Hill, have questioned what flag design was actually flown, arguing that it was actually most likely a British flag and not the Grand Union Flag. Ansoff studies primary sources, including a letter by Washington himself, to investigate the true identity of the flag that was raised in 1776. Meanwhile, author Byron DeLear upholds the traditional history of the flag in his book The First American Flag: Revisiting the Grand Union at Prospect Hill.

Wilson affirms that the ceremony, which was made possible with the support of Mayor Joseph Curtatone, still holds meaning for the City of Somerville.

“It’s a way to commemorate and celebrate the major contributions to the creation of our nation,” said Wilson. “It was a unifying symbol for the beginning of our country, as separate from the British. It demonstrates Somerville pride and our reputation for being a community that likes to be pioneering in its policies, programs, and events.”