Larson Marks 150th Anniversary Of Flag Day, 375th Birthday Of Hartford

HARTFORD – Congressman John Larson (CT-01) marked the 150th anniversary of Flag Day and the 375th birthday of Hartford by stressing the "interwoven history" of the United States and the City.

"Given that the City of Hartford has played such a historical role in shaping the United States, it is no surprise that the idea of Flag Day originated here," Congressman Larson said. "Whether it was laying the foundation for the United States Constitution nearly 100 years before the document was signed or being home to distinguished citizens such as Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and P.T. Barnum, Hartford's history has forever been interwoven with that of our great country."

Hartford citizen George Morris is generally credited with originally coming up with the idea for Flag Day shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Later that year the Hartford Daily Courant newspaper endorsed the idea and in 1862 the General Assembly voted to make Connecticut the first state to recognize June 14th as Flag Day.

Making the 150th anniversary of Flag Day all the more special is that it also happens to coincide with the 375th birthday of the City of Hartford. Over the past week Mayor Pedro E. Segarra has held numerous events celebrating the city's birthday culminating with a march from Hartford City Hall to Connecticut's Old State House.

In a letter to all those who attended the march, Congressman Larson said, "I want to thank Mayor Pedro Segarra and the citizens of Hartford for doing such an incredible job of honoring the history of our city today and every day."

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