Bedford Flag Spotted Next To Trump Flag At Capitol Riots

BEDFORD, MA — The Bedford flag was one of dozens spotted on Capitol Hill during the riots that left five dead and dozens arrested.

The gathering turned and ended in a violent riot after pro-Trump extremists breached and desecrated the U.S. Capitol. The riot left five dead, dozens arrested and a delayed electoral count that eventually certified Joe Biden as the President-elect. D.C. police issued a 6 p.m. curfew on Jan. 6 but many rioters stayed well past 6 p.m.

Getty photographer John Moore snapped a photo of two flags flying at the scene, well past sunset with the Capitol Building in the background. One flag was the Bedford flag and the other was a Trump flag.

Bedford's flag is a colonial militia flag and is considered the oldest, complete flag known to exist in the United States. According to the town website, the Bedford flag was made for a cavalry troop of the Massachusetts Bay militia during the French and Indian War. Nathaniel Page, a Bedford minuteman, carried the flag to North Bridge in Concord on April 19, 1775, at the start of the American Revolution, according to the website.

The original Bedford flag is secured in a special room on the History Mezzanine of the Bedford Library.

The flag flying at the Capitol was a replica. Bedford officials issued a statement on Tuesday denouncing the flag's use and association with the violent riots.

The statement reads in part:

"To associate our nations first battle flag — a symbol of pride and patriotism — with the lawlessness of Wednesday's events at the Capitol is an insult to Cornet Nathaniel Page and all those who served our town and our nation as minutemen, citizens, soldiers and public servants."

The Bedford flag wasn't the only historic replica spotted at the riots, Besty Ross' flag was photographed in the midst of the crowd as well as the Gadsen flag and several Confederate flags.