Somerville Announces 240th Grand Union Flag Raising at Prospect Hill Park

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission and Mayor Joseph Curtatone have announced that the annual Grand Union flag-raising ceremony will take place on Jan. 1 at Prospect Hill Park at 12:00 p.m.

Friday’s event will be the 240th edition of the flag-raising ceremony, according to a Somerville release. A re-enactor impersonating George Washington will leave City Hall at approximately 11:30 on horseback and will make his way up to Prospect Hill to begin the ceremony. The event commemorates the first raising of the national flag atop Prospect Hill on New Year’s Day, 1776.

This will also be the first flag raising after a new $500,000 makeover was performed on Prospect Hill Tower. The renovations were completed earlier in December and funds were driven from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) which was passed in 2012. Repairs were completed on the interior and exterior walls as well as staircases.

Residents are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing and participate in the event. The American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard will be in attendance to lead the military salute along with Major General L. Scott Rice, the Adjutant General for Massachusetts.

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