[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING THE PROSPECT HILL FLAG RAISING

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                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2003

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a moment of 
tremendous historical significance to our great country. January 1, 
2003, marks the 227th anniversary of the raising on Prospect Hill, 
Somerville (then in Charlestown) the first flag of the United American 
Colonies. It is also the 100th anniversary of the building of the 
monument on Prospect Hill to recognize this event.
  On January 1, 1776, General George Washington authorized that the 
Grand Union Flag be flown to celebrate the formation of the Continental 
Army. Thus, the Grand Union Flag, also known as the Great Union Flag, 
the Continental Union Flag and the Congress Flag, was raised at the 
fort sited on Prospect Hill. The brigade of Continental troops 
commanded by the legendary General Nathaniel Greene stationed at 
Prospect Hill produced a rousing cry and fired a salute of thirteen 
guns as the flag proudly flew on that cold winter's morning. Washington 
himself fondly recalled the scene, writing in a letter to his friend 
Colonel Joseph Reed, ``we hoisted the Union Flag in compliment to the 
United Colonies.''
  Our first flag itself bears only a similarity to our current flag, 
although, surprisingly, it bears a strong resemblance to the flag flown 
during the 18th century by the East India Company. The Grand Union Flag 
was an alteration of the British meteor flag. It featured thirteen 
alternating red and white stripes to signify the thirteen American 
colonies. A contemporary British Union flag--the red cross of St. 
George and the White cross of St. Andrew on a blue background--formed 
its canton. It was felt that this combination aptly reflected the unity 
the colonists felt in their struggle and the loyalty many still felt to 
England. While the Continental Congress never passed a resolution 
recognizing the Grand Union Flag as the official American flag, it was 
used until mid-1777 by the Continental Army and is considered the first 
flag of the United States. I am proud that it was first raised on 
Prospect Hill, Somerville, in what is now the 8th Congressional 
District of Massachusetts.

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