{"product_id":"bedford-massachusetts-holiday-ornament-bedford-flag","title":"Bedford Massachusetts Holiday Ornament - Bedford Flag","description":"\u003c!-- Bedford Massachusetts Holiday Ornament - Bedford Flag | new build, Winter Walk WW2-09 | order: hook, pitch with facts, QUICK FACTS, story --\u003e\n\u003c!-- Version: R4.3SP town ornament | GKP (number assigned at run) R1 19\/42 + R2 25\/38 = 44\/80 (55.0%) | 2026-11-11_002 --\u003e\n\u003c!-- Keywords: 29 published, volume-tier ordered | article:tag 14 | FAQPage x4 | Buttons: four-slot standard, 1 top \/ 1 bottom --\u003e\n\u003c!-- IP Clean | Content audit: PASS --\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/collections\/crystal-glass-town-ornaments\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;background:#F0EAD6;color:#1a1a1a;border:1px solid #D8CFB6;border-radius:4px;padding:14px 16px;margin:0;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;\"\u003eSee All Town \u0026amp; Animal Ornaments\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mc-ornament-body\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Bedford Flag, crimson silk, an armored arm and a sword, the banner of April 19.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVince aut morire: conquer or die. The words run on a ribbon around an armored arm thrust from a cloud, sword in hand, on a field of crimson. This ornament carries the Bedford Flag in its true colours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Bedford child learns this flag, and every Bedford household ought to have it on the tree. It is a three-inch round of faceted crystal glass on a red ribbon, printed so the open areas of the drawing let the light through, in your choice of a white or gold gift box. It is also a striking gift for a Minuteman reenactor, a collector of historic flags, or anyone keeping the 250th anniversary with something older than the stars and stripes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mc-facts-box\" style=\"background:#f7f7f7; border:1px solid #e3e3e3; border-radius:6px; padding:16px 20px 8px; margin:20px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align:center; font-size:11px; letter-spacing:.06em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#555; margin:0 0 12px;\"\u003eQuick Facts — Bedford Flag Ornament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Subject: The Bedford Flag: armored arm, sword and motto on crimson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Town: Bedford, Massachusetts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Size: 3 in (76 mm) round, faceted edge, red ribbon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Material: crystal glass, line-drawn art printed to let the crystal show through\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Packaging: white or gold gift box\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Made to order in the USA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px; line-height:1.55; color:#444; margin:0 0 9px; padding-left:14px; text-indent:-14px;\"\u003e›  Ships free in the U.S.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mc-ornament-story\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flag is painted on crimson silk damask. Analysis of its pigments shows it was made in the early 1700s, as a cavalry standard for a Massachusetts troop. By the tradition of the Page family, Nathaniel Page, a Bedford Minuteman, took it up on the morning of April 19, 1775, and carried it to Concord. It is kept on display in Bedford today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a small flag, about two feet square, and it has survived three centuries. Whatever happened at the bridge, it is very likely the oldest complete flag in the country, and Bedford has never let it go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/pages\/all-products\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;background:#F0EAD6;color:#1a1a1a;border:1px solid #D8CFB6;border-radius:4px;padding:14px 16px;margin:0;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;\"\u003eShop All Towns \u0026amp; Items\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mc-meta\" style=\"display:none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta name=\"keywords\" content=\"battle of concord, bedford massachusetts, first american flag, american revolution flag, bedford flag, colonial flag, concord bridge, historic american flags, historical flags, revolutionary war flag, american flag ornament, flag decor, flag ornament, minuteman flag, oldest american flag, patriotic christmas ornament, patriotic gifts, the bedford flag, vince aut morire, 1775 flag, bedford flag history, bedford gifts, bedford ma history, bedford minuteman company, bedford minutemen, flag christmas ornament, flag gifts, oldest flag in america, oldest flag in the united states\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"battle of concord\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"bedford massachusetts\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"first american flag\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"american revolution flag\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"bedford flag\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"colonial flag\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"concord bridge\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"historic american flags\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"historical flags\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"revolutionary war flag\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"american flag ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"flag decor\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"flag ornament\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta property=\"article:tag\" content=\"minuteman flag\"\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What does the Bedford Flag ornament show?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The Bedford Flag of Bedford, Massachusetts: a crimson banner showing an armored arm holding a sword, emerging from a cloud, with the Latin motto Vince Aut Morire.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How old is the Bedford Flag?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The Bedford Flag was made in the early 1700s; one of its pigments was not available before 1704. Page family tradition holds that Nathaniel Page carried it to Concord on April 19, 1775. It is on display in Bedford, Massachusetts.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is the ornament made of, and how is it packaged?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A three-inch round of faceted crystal glass with a red ribbon. The line-drawn art is printed so the open areas let the crystal show through. It comes in a white or gold gift box, is made to order in the USA and ships free in the U.S.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is this ornament an official Bedford souvenir?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. It is original art by Merlin Classics, an independent shop, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any town office, museum or organization.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Merlin Classics","offers":[{"title":"One size \/ Circle + White Gift Packaging","offer_id":51591529955545,"sku":"26141849716093307957","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"One size \/ Circle + Gold Gift Packaging","offer_id":51591529988313,"sku":"31822172760888630106","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0768\/9374\/9465\/files\/2542788829359803489_2048.jpg?v=1794454684","url":"https:\/\/merlinclassics.store\/products\/bedford-massachusetts-holiday-ornament-bedford-flag","provider":"Merlin Classics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}