The Bedford Flag is the oldest known surviving, complete flag in the United States.

It is associated with the Minutemen of Bedford, Massachusetts, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord of 1775.

thumb|right|250px|Original 18th century flag, kept in the Bedford Library.

Construction and design

The flag is made of crimson silk damask measuring approximately .

The painted-on design depicts an armored arm grasping a straight sword coming out of a cloud. The two sides are asymmetrical; the sword appears behind the motto on one side and appears in front of it on the other. The Latin motto of "Vince Aut Morire" translates to "Conquer or Die." However, morire is a misspelling of "morere," a second person conjugation of morie. The correct translation is "Vince Aut Morere." The motto reads from top to bottom on one side and from bottom to top on the other.

Origin

thumb|right|250px|A flag of similar design hangs in the [[Binnenhof in The Hague circa 1651. The image of an arm holding a sword is common in European heraldry at least as early as the 16th century.]]

The exact age and origin of the flag are not known, but physical and historical evidence are consistent with a date early in the 18th century. historians thought that the Bedford flag might actually be that earlier flag. However, spectroscopic analysis of the paint revealed the pigment called “Prussian blue”, which did not exist before 1704. The flag is in the care of the Bedford Free Public Library and is available for visitors to view.

Similar flags

See also

  • Colours, standards and guidons
  • Flags of the American Revolutionary War
  • 181st Infantry Regiment (United States)

References

Further reading

  • Bedford Minuteman Company