Float in the 1999 Flag Day Parade anticipating the Framingham Tercentennial in 2000.

Flag Day Weekend (Framingham)

A Flag Day celebration is particularly appropriate for Framingham, as it was the site of the first factory established for manufacturing the American flag. Following a directive of the Board of Selectment of Framingham in 1986, the Framingham Celebration Committee was formed and, after considerable discussion and debate, tentatively set Flag Day, June 14, 1987, as the date for a Framingham Parade -- the first in nearly ten years. It was decided that in honor of the bicentennial of the United States Constitution, the parade would be complemented by a weekend-long series of events, including an outdoor band concert, a Flag Day Ball, and a Flag Retirement ceremony.

In subsequent years, the concert, ball and parade remained the core of the Celebration Weekend. In 1989, the first annual running of the 'Framingham Five Miler' made its debut. Each year a specific theme is chosen for the float competition, and have included "Our Town"; "Education - Our Future"; "Spirit of Unity"; and "Our Heritage." The Framingham Celebration Committee will be going all-out for the Flag Day Weekend during its town's 300th anniversary year (tercentennial) in 2000.

Project documentation comprises a list of themes for the Flag Day Parade, a list of Grand Marshalls, several pages of text, newspaper clippings, a flyer/poster, color photos, and video of the 1999 Flag Day Parade.

Originally submitted by: Edward J. Markey, Representative (7th District).

More Local Legacies... Additional Massachusetts Local Legacies Local Legacies for all U.S. States

The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

Learn More About It... Related Web Site