Bedford Flag in Bedford, Massachusetts

In a small historic town on the outskirts of Boston lies the Bedford Flag, the oldest complete surviving flag in the United States.

The flag’s almost-square base is an ornate crimson silk damask with a pattern of pomegranates, grapes, and leaves. Painted over it in silver and gold, an armored hand reaches out from a cloud grasping a sword. The sword lies behind a banner reading Vince Aut Morire, Conquer or Die. Above and below the arm, three cannonballs hang in midair. When the flag was in use, it would also have been adorned with a silver fringe which was unfortunately removed.

Despite its claim to fame as the oldest complete surviving flag in the United States the exact year the flag was created, and by whom, is still a mystery. Experts place its creation sometime in the early 1700s because of the Prussian blue pigment used and the unique design on the silk damask. The flag was in the possession of the Page family for 5 generations until 1885 when it was given to the Town of Bedford. Town records show that several members of the Page family were cornets, a military rank responsible for carrying the flag, however, it is likely someone of a higher rank actually acquired the flag.

It is said that the minuteman Nathaniel Page may have carried the flag with him into the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. His grandson Cyrus recounted to historian A.E. Brown that the flag was with him at Concord’s North Bridge, where the shot heard ‘round the world was fired, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War. 

Whether the flag really was there for the shot heard ‘round the world or not, it can still be seen being carried by Bedford Minuteman Company reenactors on Patriots’ Day. It can also be found on the Town of Bedford’s seal, embroidered onto the town’s fire and police department uniforms, and flown in front of homes and local businesses in Bedford.