2. Bedford Militia with oldest battle flag.
3.
4. COL Robert Powers (AHAC ROD) GA Militia.
5. COL Robert Powers (AHAC ROD) GA Militia.
6. Centennial Legion (AHAC ROD, GA Militia & Pawtucket Rangers.
7. Fife & Drum leads the way.
8. "Under Fife & Drum".
9. Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company, est 1638.
10. General George Washington (Dave Loda), 1775-1776, 1789 & 2017.
11.
12. Rhode Island Militia (Newport Artillary).
13. Sgt Brian Ward, MANG, Red., AHAC Sergeant Major.
14. Col Ron Barnes, Commander Pawtucket Rangers & Centennial Legion of Historic Commands.
15. COL Robert Enbach, CDR, USN Ret, Commaner Newport Artillery.
16. Centennial Legion.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21. HM 10th Regiment of Foot, Under Escort.
22. Militia Supporters.
23. Militia Supporters.
24. Militia Supporters.
25. Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company.
26. COL (MA) Lawrence Willwerth, USA Ret (AHAC), Commander of Troops.
27. COL (P) Richard Johnson, MANG, Massachusetts Assistant Adjuteant General, Massachusetts National Guard.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32. Dennis Sullivan, Somerville Alderman
33. General George Washington & Huckleberry Finn McCool.
34. COL James McGinn, Director Massachusetts Environmental Police
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41. Two hundred and forty-one years later.
42.
43.
44. Invocation, Mimi Graney.
45. Bill White.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50. American Legion, Post 19 Honor Guard.
51.
52.
53. Larry Epps, American Legion, Post 19.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58. Christie Chase, Somerville Historic Preservation Commission.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68. Lt Robert Flynn (AHAC).
69. Lt Robert Flynn (AHAC).
70. LTC James Marques, USAR (AHAC).
71. LTC James Marques, USAR (AHAC).
72.
73.
74.
75. COL James McGinn, Director Massachusetts Environmental Police.
76.
77. SGT Cameron McNeill (AHAC).
78/79. COL Ron Barnes.
80. COL Paul O'Shaughnessy, HM 20th Regiment of Foot.
81.
82. SGT Rob Lee, HM 20th Regiment of Foot.
83. CPL Eric Niehaus. HM 10th Regiment of Foot.
84. "Under Bayonett".
85. "God Save the Queen."
86. "Thank you."
87.
88. Lenny, fantastic vidiographer.
89. Post 19 Honor Guard
90.
91.
92. COL (MA) Arthur O'Malley (AHAC) Adjutant.
93. BG (MA) Robert Welch (AHAC), Captain Commanding.
94. Theresa DiMunzio, Drummer.
95. MSG Gerard Kelley.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101. Brandon Wilson, City of Somerville Organizer. Executive Director, Somerville Historic Preservation Commission.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115. Brian DeLear, Flag Historian.
116. "Commanders! Bring your units to attention & present arms".
117. Flag Detail.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124. SFC Robert Bean, MANG (AHAC), "To The Colors".
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139. Evelyn Batinelli & Janet Wood-Spagnoli.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147. Two hundred and forty-one years later they are still working it out.
148.
149.
150. "The king awaits your reply".
151.
152. Centinnial Legion Commander & Staff.
153.
154. Brandon Wilson and Alenandra Dean
155.
156.
157.
And here you can view a videotaping of the entire event by the City’s Communication crew in the leisure and warmth of your own home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RQbDD_cY4A&feature=youtu.be
A note of thanks to all participants from Brandon J. Brandon Wilson, Executive Director, Somerville Historic Preservation Commission
Dear Honorable and Historic Militia Members and Event Participants,
In particular, I would like to note that the
British Redcoats were supremely represented by Her Majesty's Tenth Regiment of
Foot, who once again was headed by Lieutenant Colonel Paul O'Shaughnessy, and
his two body guards. As always, they were impeccably well dressed and
armed, but clearly over equipped for our very civilized gathering. He
shamelessly delivered His Majesty King George III's speech with the appropriate
mix of arrogance, pomp, and paternalism it deserved, making it quite remarkable
that it was not burned on the spot! We recognize that General
Washington was suffering from a particularly bad cold, yet he was still able to
muster a spirited exchange with the Lieutenant Colonel, much to the delight of
the assembled spectators. We were also pleased to hear that his ever so
regal horse, Huckleberry Finn McCool, so fully enjoyed the personal signage
created by Traffic and Parking to mark his parking spot outside the Mt. Vernon
Restaurant, that he posted it to his own Facebook page!
We were delighted to have representatives this
year from the Bedford militia, and an even larger contingent from the Rhode
Island Militia. They were under the command of Brigadier General
Nathaniel Greene in 1775-1776, but impressively represented at this 2017 event
by Colonel Ron Barnes, and other hardy members of the Pawtucket Rangers and the
Centennial Legion of Historic Commands, including the Newport Artillery and the
Kentish Guards. Their presence was integral to the authenticity of the
day, both in clothing and composition. Once again the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery were extremely valuable participants, commanded this year
by Brigadier General Robert Welch and assisted by Quartermaster Lawrence
Willwerth, and notably enhanced by their bugler and generous sponsorship of a
post event brunch at the Mount Vernon. Colonel Willwerth, aided by
colleagues Jim Marques (recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel) and SGM Brian
Ward, were also invaluable in helping to coordinate the various militia's roles
and positions on site.
It was a pleasure to welcome three new speakers to
the podium this year: Mimi Graney, a local Justice of the Peace, to offer
a wonderful Invocation; native son Richard Johnson, Assistant Adjutant General
of the Massachusetts Army National Guard (and newly promoted to Brigadier
General) to represent Governor Baker whom he serves as his Senior Military
Advisor and the Commander of all Massachusetts military forces; and Byron
DeLear, a dedicated researcher and member of the North American Vexillological
Association, who shared his newest findings about the connection of our Grand
Union Flag to the name of our nation. And finally, it would not be
possible to commemorate such an occasion without the long-standing commitment
and participation of local veterans, and especially the Somerville Honor Guard
from the American Legion Post 19, who provided a thirteen gun salute to the
Raising of the Flag, expertly hoisted by the many dedicated men and women of
the DPW Parks and Buildings and Grounds crew.
As a small token of the City's appreciation to ALL
of you, I am attaching links to some of the publicity published this week in
the local newspapers, as well as multiple photos taken by our fine veteran
photographer, Skip Murray:
And finally, you can view a videotaping of the entire event by the City’s Communication crew in the leisure and warmth of your own home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RQbDD_cY4A&feature=youtu.be
Note that since it is now posted on UTube you can easily share it with members of your organization and families, and consider incorporating it onto your own websites.
Note that since it is now posted on UTube you can easily share it with members of your organization and families, and consider incorporating it onto your own websites.
Thank you again for helping us launch the first of
many events this year to celebrate the City’s 175th anniversary as a
community.
I wish you a healthy and fulfilling new
year! We look forward to your participation again in 2018.
Best wishes, Brandon
J. Brandon Wilson
Executive Director
Somerville Historic Preservation Commission
City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
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