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Rare Revolutionary War Flag to be Unveiled

A rare Revolutionary War flag will be unveiled at a special reception on Wednesday, 6 September 2006, at Studio 33, located at 243 State Street, New London . The reception will be held at 5:30pm following the wreath-laying procession that will mark the 225 th anniversary of the burning of New London . The raid by British troops in 1781, in the closing months of action in the War, was led by Benedict Arnold.

The flag, believed to have been used by Nathanial Shaw, Jr., as Naval Agent for Connecticut , has long been in the collection of the New London County Historical Society. Because of its deteriorated condition, the flag was restored and stabilized in the past year at the Textile Conservation Laboratory of the Textile, Fashion Merchandizing and Design Department of the University of Rhode Island .

Studio 33, a gallery and custom framing business owned by Sara Munro, provided conservation framing for the flag so that it can be displayed at the Shaw Mansion, headquarters for the historical society. It is one of several artifacts on display as part of a new exhibit: Plunder and Peril: New London in the American Revolution.

The reception follows a solemn procession led by a color guard of the Sons of the American Revolution, with wreaths to be laid at four historic sites in New London . Beginning at 4:00pm at the Hempsted Houses, a wreath will be laid at a memorial to Stephen Hempstead, one of the survivors of the Battle of Groton Heights. Next a wreath will be hung on the door of the Shaw Mansion, Connecticut's naval headquarters during the War, and one of the few houses on the waterfront to survive Arnold 's destruction.

The Custom House will be the third stop; although built after the war, its location is at the very center of the area burned by the British. The final wreath will be hung at the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse on the Parade. Nathan Hale, Connecticut 's State Hero, taught at this School just prior to joining the American forces in the Revolution.

All are welcome to visit Studio 33, just up the street from the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, following the wreath-laying procession. The flag will be publicly displayed for the first time in three years.