Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Historic Preservation Commission Director Brandon Wilson announced that the 237^th 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 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.

The afternoon’s program will include songs, readings, and participants from the Ancient and Honorable Company (first chartered in 1638), as well as the Charlestown militia. This year’s celebrations will once again include His Majesty’s 10^thRegiment of Foot, who will be representing the British Army and will be bringing a message from King George III.  The American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard will lead a military salute as a commemorative flag is raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower.