Bedford Battle Flag a Part of Revolutionary History

Bedford Historical Society president Jan van Steenwijk has made it his mission to see the Bedford flag restored and displayed in a way that reflects the history of the flag. 

Previous to his membership with the Historical Society, van Steenwijk was at the Bedford Free Public Library when he realized the original Bedford battle flag, created in 1704, was kept in a case in an ill-lit room, and was looking tattered.

"This led us to create Friends of the Bedford Flag in 1997," van Steenwijk. "We raised funds to have the flag restored at the Lowell Textile Museum and had a new safe room built within the library so it was displayed properly."

Friends of the Bedford Flag also contributed funds toward the patriot statue in Memorial Park, van Steenwijk said. 

Following the restoration of the flag, van Steenwijk decided to allow Friends of the Bedford Flag to be absorbed by the Historical Society in 2010, along with the group's funds and the largest incarnation of the Bedford flag which continues to be used every year in the Bedford Day Parade. 

Now, van Steenwijk is president of the Historical Society, and is more dedicated than ever to giving the flag the reverance it deserves.

"It is the oldest exisiting flag in the United States," van Steenwijk said. "How many things did we have left from 1704?"

Van Steenwijk said the flag remains an important part of Bedford culture not only because it is a part of the revolutionary history of our country, but because it shows that Bedford was unique of those towns who were involved in the battle of Concord. 

"Of those groups who showed up to fight the British we were the only group carrying a flag," van Steenwijk said.