Legend holds that this is the flag the Bedford Minutemen fought under at the Concord Bridge on April 19, 1775.
Working on this over the last few weeks has been very therapeutic and reinvigorated me to stand up for this country I love....Hope you enjoy!
That’s awesome.. but the mundanes won’t know it’s history at all and will assume it’s medieval.
So this was the flag flying when "The shot heard 'round the world" was fired?
Looks great! I have not seen one commercially available, or Pine Tree flag, just Gadsen and Moultrie.
God bless your effort. It is a worthy and noble enterprise.
Vince Aut Morire (”Conquer Or Die”).
Excellent job
You should start a business. Many people could work from home.
At the centennial celebrations of April 19, 1775, Ralph Waldo Emerson read his poem about the flag:
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.
http://www.bedfordminutemancompany.org/Flag
Joe.. the flag is beautiful. I had no idea you were so talented in art and fabric. Great job! I am truly impressed!
That thing is completely cool - you’ve done a terrific job!
P.S. Thanks for the history lesson - too bad the kids that need it most will never get it in the publik skoolz.
Found this at Seven Brothers Mercantile - http://www.sevenbros.com/product_info.php?products_id=30810
Lot’s of other flags, etc. (Just saying.)
Bedford Minuteman Flag 3x5 ft Poly $4.99
Made for outdoors, 3x5 foot, two grommet 150 Denure Polyester Construction. 4 Rows of stitching on the fly side.
The Bedford Flag is the oldest existing flag in the United States, the second oldest in the western hemisphere and the only flag carried by the Minutemen at the battle of the North Bridge in Concord on April 19, 1775.
It had a long history before the Revolution, for it had been used as a standard of the Massachusetts Bay cavalry Troop for over 100 years and had seen service in the Indian Wars many times before that great day at the bridge.
In 1659, when the cavalry troop was organized, arrangements were made for a proper emblem. The flag was probably made in England for the Massachusetts Bay Colony sometime between 1660 and 1670. Records of the order for the flag, and a description of the proposed emblem, are in the British Museum.
The Bedford Flag is about 2½ feet square, handmade of red silk damask. The design is handpainted on both sides of the flag in silver and gold leaf. Extending from a cloud is an armor-clad arm holding a sword, with three cannon balls in the background. In a scroll is the motto VINVE AUT MORIRE (Conquer or die). On the reverse side, the motto begins at the bottom and the sword is in front of the scroll. This, in itself makes the flag unique.
The old flag which we so proudly own was called a “cornet”, and was carried by a mounted officer, also called a Cornet. The Page family of Bedford had held a commission of Cornet for generations. In 1737, John Page was commissioned as a Cornet, or standard bearer. His son, Nathaniel, was a Minuteman, and although not commissioned, was called Cornet Page. It was Cornet Nathaniel Page that carried the old emblem to Concord on the morning of April 19, 1775.
At the centennial celebrations of April 19, 1775, Ralph Waldo Emerson read his poem about the flag:
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.
In 1885, Cyrus Page, grandson to Cornet Nathaniel Page, gave to the Town of Bedford the flag, which had been in the custody of the Page family for over 150 years. Both the old Bedford Flag and the Commission of John Page in facsimile are in a specially constructed vault at the Bedford Public Library.
Beautiful! in every sense of the word.
Excellent handiwork, sir. Do you plan to make some for sale?
Amazing work, beautiful! Fantastic job, congrats!
You already know my opinion, dear. For the record, I think you’ve done a magnificent job. The bold and stunning vision of your Bedford Flag brings the blood up and infuses the heart with courage, as we remember we must fight to take back our country from those determined to destroy it. “Conquer Or Die”, we must! I hope you’re as proud of your flag, as I am of you.
Very nice. I worked in Bedford many years ago and used to frequently get lunch and drive to the Old North Bridge and eat it.
Great work...Making your own says dedication to the motto...
For those less artisticly inclined, however, look here...
http://www.ultimateflags.com/Bedford-flag-for-sale.html
Thanks for the history lesson. I’m always interested in learning the history of our great nation. Nice job on the Bedford flag. You are right that American made flags are expensive. I bought an American-made Stars & Stripes and a Gadsden flag last summer from a local specialty store and it cost me almost $70.00 for the two, which I consider money well spent as they are of very good quality compared to the department store variety. I fly them proudly, side by side and pray they last many years and our country lasts many more years.
That flag is beautiful. I bought a poly one to fly at some point (soon, I think.)
I also have a Goliad Flag which will also need to fly soon.
That flag is beautiful. I bought a poly one to fly at some point (soon, I think.)
I also have a Goliad Flag which will also need to fly soon.