Historic Cavalry Flag Discovered In Hamilton To Be Presented At Beverly Warrior Weekend

BEVERLY, MA — A historic American military flag dating back nearly two centuries to the Regiment of Mounted Calvary — believed tucked away for decades before being found in an attic at the Hamilton Community House in South Hamilton — will be presented back to the 3d Cavalry Regiment of Fort Hood, Texas, as part of the Beverly Warrior Weekend next week.

Beverly Veterans Services Director David Perinchief told Patch that when Hamilton Community House Director Melissa Elmer said the flag was discovered during a deep cleaning of the house, she contacted the Hamilton-Wenham Rod & Club to discern its origin, and they contacted Beverly Veterans Services.

Perinchief said he "immediately recognized it as a military guidon by its unique construction."

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"The flag, which appears to be a silky material with a painted unit emblem, is not common in the modern era," he said he realized.

After further research, along with Assistant Veterans Director Ken McKay, it was determined to belong to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and that he contacted both the Fort Hood Commander's Office and the National Mounted Warrior Museum.

Perinchief said the flag was confirmed to be "a genuine piece of United States Army history," and arrangements were made to present the flag back to the Regiment at Warrior Weekend.

The flag will be presented to the Regiment's Sergeant Major Billy Hendrix, at the Memorial Ceremony at Warrior Weekend on May 17 at 1:30 p.m. at Beverly High School in time for it to be returned to Fort Hood for the 180th anniversary of the Regiment's founding on May 19, 1846.

Perinchief said the flag, in addition to its impressive history, was originally framed by the famous Veerhoof Galleries, which are part of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as indicated by the markings on the back of the frame.

According to the National Gallery of Art, Veerhoff Galleries also famously framed the Declaration of Independence.

The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen was founded in 1846 to provide security along the Oregon Trail.

Throughout its 180-year history, it has fought in everything from the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, both World Wars, and the Gulf War.

It changed its name and purposes several times from the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, the 3d Cavalry Group (Mechanized), 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, and now the 3d Cavalry Regiment, Perinchief said.

It retained its title as "the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen" from 1846-1861, which Perinchief said means he can confidently date this Regimental Standard to this timeframe.

Warrior Weekend, which annually brings more than 5,000 visitors to the North Shore, returns to Beverly High School on May 16 and May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The free event will include military re-enactors, apparatus, a planned Coast Guard helicopter landing, veterans services, the Touch-a-Truck, animal and martial arts exhibits and demonstrations, food and the annual Memorial presentation on Sunday.