Flying Thursday, July 2, 2009.

Today I am flying the Grand UnionFlag in Vernon St. This present heat wave does not provide good flag wind all day, so spot the flag in the afternoon when the thunder clouds are growing !

The Grand Union flag

In 2 days time, July 4, it will be Independence day in USA, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Today, July 2, might in other circumstrances have been celebrated as it was actually that day in 1776 that The Lee Resolution, also known as the resolution of independence, was approved by the Second Continental Congress declaring the Thirteen Colonies to be independent of the British Empire.

The Lee resolution: Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the United States had no official national flag. The Grand Union Flag has historically been referred to as the "First National Flag"

Although it has never had any official status, it was used early in the American Revolutionary War by George Washington and formed the basis for the design of the first official U.S. flag. The origins of the design are unclear. It closely resembles the British East India Company flag of the same era, and by some it is held that the Company flag indeed inspired the design. However, the Company flag could have from 9 to 13 stripes, and was not allowed to be flown outside the Indian Ocean.Both flags could have been easily constructed by simpy sewing white stripes to a British Red Ensign, a common flag throughout Britain and its colonies.

The British East India Company flag of the same era