Flag Day At Mystic Liberty Pole And Park (With Video)

Despite the morning downpour Mystic celebrated Flag Day with the annual flag raising ceremony at Liberty Pole Tuesday morning. Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 76 raised the flag to the bugle call of “To the Colors,” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The high school bugle player, Joss Paquette, was supposed to be taking a final exam at Fitch High School this morning but when he learned there was not going to be a bugle in attendance for the historic ceremony he requested to take the exam on the Friday make-up day so he could attend.

Following the ceremony the Mystic Flag Committee held their annual meeting, where they discussed plans to repair the flagpole. In 2008, while Liberty Pole was being painted craftsmen from the Mystic Seaport recommended it needed some repairs and wanted to take it down.

“The Liberty Pole is showing its age and needs to be rebuilt,” John Symons said.

The Mystic Flag Committee estimates the entire process from taking the flag pole down to the restoration and finally putting it back up will cost about $30,000.  They are hoping to raise the money through donations.

“If we want to see the flag flying over Mystic we need to repair it [Liberty Pole],” Symons said.

On September 8, will hold a benefit dinner where 20 percent of the net proceeds will go to the Mystic Flag Committee. A website was recently put together: mysticlibertypole.com, that gives the history of the pole and park, information on the American Flag, Troop 76 and events and meetings of the Mystic Flag Committee. There is also a way to donate online via paypal, and also information on where to mail donations.

The Mystic Flag Committee is also looking for ideas of what to do for July 4, 2011 if the flagpole is not there.

On Saturday, Stonington-Mystic Patch’s column will feature a photograph of the Liberty Pole from 1924 provided by the .