January 1, 1776. America's First Flag, the "Grand Union Flag"

The Grand Union Flag, which is considered to be the first national flag of the United States, was raised  for the first time by General George Washington's army on New Year's Day 1776 at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (now part of Somerville), near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts,  The flag consisted of 13 red and white stripes with the British Union Flag of the time. A local newspaper described the flag " 'an emblematical representation of the thirteen United Colonies, with this motto, 'In Union There's Strength.' "