New Jersey’s Gift to America – July 4 Celebration – 2024

Middlebrook’s Gift to America

RAIN or SHINE – Join friends and family on Independence Day as the Washington Camp Ground Association honors the American flag, the playing of the Star Spangled Banner and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. It’s a pure American celebration. We call it “Jersey’s Gift to America!”

Middlebrook is a tiny section of land recognized as part of Bridgewater, New Jersey just south of Martinsville in Somerset County, New Jersey. It’s just north of Bound Brook. It was on a warm “almost summer day” on June 14, 1777 that the Continental Army hoisted America’s first official flag after the Continental Congress approved the flag on June 14, 1777, know to America as Flag Day.

Please consider car pooling, walking or biking if able. (Parking is limited and we’d like to save it for those who most need it.)Ceremonies begin at 10am. Bring a lawn chair.

On June 14 (Flag Day) in 1992, the United States Postal Service honored Hopkinson as the “Father of the Stars and Stripes” with a commemorative pictorial postmark showing the flag shown above.

The City of Philadelphia, Edward G. Rendell Mayor, issued a proclamation making September 21, 1992 Francis Hopkinson Day in honor of this “…great American leader” who “is also credited with designing the first official United States flag”. Sept. 21 is Hopkinson’s birthday.

Click Here for Directions

Master of Ceremonies:Washington Camp Ground Association President

• 10:00am – Assembly LIVE IN PERSON OR LIVE STREAMING HERE ON FACEBOOK LIVE.– Enjoy Patriotic Music
• 10:30am – Flag Ceremony– Invocation– Retirement of Old Colors (Taps)– Presentation of New Colors (National Anthem)– Pledge of Allegiance
• 10:45am– Words of Welcome– Reading of the Declaration of Independence
• 11:15am– Benediction– Closing Remarks

• Get Your Own Historic Hopkinson 1777 American Flag – Supports Jersey Local History
  Fundraiser: Get a 3’x5′ Hopkinson flag of your own. Reg. $30, now only $20. Click Here
• New Jersey Signers or the Declaration of Independence T- Shirt – Get Yours and support local history efforts.

More Information

• THE First American Flag and Middlebrook, New Jersey
• The history of the Middlebrook Encampment and the American Flag
• Fly your own Hopkinson American Flag and Support Local History Efforts
• Join the Washington Camp Ground Association
• Washington Campground Association History
• The Annin’s of Liberty Corner: Patriots, Flag Company and a Middle School
• The American Flag Means Annin in Liberty Corner
• The American Flagman Honors Patriotism Everyday