Somerville Preparing For 247th Annual Grand Union Flag Raising

SOMERVILLE, MA — Get your tricorne hats and neck ruffles ready because it's almost time for Somerville to celebrate the 247th annual raising of the Grand Union flag.

On New Year's Day, Somerville will commemorate the raising of the nation's first official flag atop Prospect Hill. The Grand Union flag, featuring 13 red and white horizontal stripes, was raised on Jan. 1, 1776.

At the time, Prospect Hill was a key site in a string of fortifications created by George Washington and the Continental Army in their siege of British troops in Boston during the first year of the American Revolution.

The Jan. 1 celebration in Somerville will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a processional from the City Hall Concourse, 93 Highland Ave., to Prospect Hill Park, 68 Munroe St. A ceremony will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at Prospect Hill Park.

All are welcome to the family-friendly event and attendees are encouraged to don Colonial-style or Colonial-inspired clothing.

The program will include remarks by Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, songs, participants from the Charlestown Militia Company and Rhode Island Militia, and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, which was first chartered in 1638.

The American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard will lead a military salute as a commemorative flag is raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower.

According to organizers, light refreshments will be served and a few items commemorating the occasion will be available for purchase, including Grand Union flag replicas and lapel pins, 1852 maps and colonial-era tricorne hats.

Depending on the weather, the tower will be open briefly to the public following the ceremony, organizers said.

The city also has offered resources to help locals create their own tricorne hats and neck ruffles:

• Paper hat and neck ruffle patterns can be found online, printed, cut out and shaped.
• A YouTube video shows how to shape the tricorne pattern into a hat.
• Residents can gain internet access and print for free (up to 20 black-and-white or 10 color pages) at Somerville Public Libraries.