Thursday, January 1, 2004

Happy New Year from Somerville, the un-Cambridge Boston may have its First Night fireworks, but the city of Somerville greets the first day of the New Year with history, hoofbeats, huzzahs and the hoisting of an almost-familiar flag. The horse's rider was "General Washington," delivering the red, white and blue banner of the united colonies to the top of Prospect Hill, reenacting the events of January 1, 1776. This time, the only gunfire was a salute to the flag, as veterans of more recent wars, city officials and more than 100 other citizens, some in 18th century costume, joined in the noontime ceremony. (Yes, some really did cheer "Hip, Hip, Huzzah!") The original flag with red and white stripes for the 13 colonies was flown from the fortified hilltop in defiance of the British garrison across the river in Boston. Pre-dating the Declaration of Independence, the Prospect Hill flag carried Great Britain's red and white union crosses on its blue field until they were replaced by the first 13 stars. Whatever its details, back in 1776  the flag and its Continental Army did the job -- the British were forced to leave Boston on St. Patrick's Day. That's an event still celebrated on March 17 as "Evacuation Day" in that city. It's a fine coincidence that closes government offices and schools and turns off the parking meters for the day of the parade. (Driving out snakes was one thing, but parking in Boston is an evil St. Patrick never had to contend with. ) Somerville, formerly part of Charlestown, has been independent of Boston for more than 150 years, and is proud to have its own identity. A speaker at the New Year's Day event mentioned annoyance at some sources that name Cambridge as the site of the First Flag raising. In present-day Somerville, tradition is not the only thing that needs upholding, city officials noted. The 101-year-old triple-decker stone tower that flies the First Flag year-round is in need of repair, including the considerably less historical fiberglass flagpole atop the tower. Officials said they feared the pole wouldn't take the strain of raising a much larger flag donated for the annual ceremony a few years ago by Flagraphics of Somerville, so Thursday's event used the standard-size flag. Even that one took some work to raise from street level, but it gradually made it to the top -- just as the sun burst through the clouds to set it aglow. Honest. It was enough to make you go "Huzzah!" [Click the flag for more pictures and a few captions, and let me know if you'd like larger versions or permission to use them elsewhere.] Footnote (Jan. 4.) On the First, this blogger focused more on getting a few pictures online than actually "covering" the flag-raising ceremony and the "who's who" involved. Mayor-elect Joe Curtatone, whose inauguration is coming up tomorrow, was one of the speakers. Congressman Michael Capuano was in the crowd and waved when introduced, but passed up the chance to sit on stage. I didn't see outgoing Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay at the event, or unsuccesful mayoral candidate Tony Lafuente, although his company Flagraphics was thanked for donating the oversized ceremonial flag that the city originally intended to use in the ceremony. The weakness of the flagpole, not Lafuente's weakness at the polls, was given as the reason for performing this year's flag-raising with a standard-size banner. 9:46:42 PM

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