Grand Union Flag

      The Grand Union 1775: Also known as the Continental flag, it is the first true U.S. Flag. It combined the British King's Colors and the thirteen stripes signifying Colonial unity. George Washington liked this design so well that he chose it to be flown to celebrate the formation of the Continental Army on New Years Day, 1776. On that day the Grand Union Flag was proudly raised on Prospect Hill in Somerville, near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    The Grand Union bears a striking simularity to the Meteor Flag of England; this may be because the idea of independence from England was still not being taken seriously by many of the colonists.  So by inserting the King's colours into the new flag , it showed a sense of allegiance to the crown and to the Motherland.