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 Thus was it documented that on 19 April 1775, a liberty pole with flag flying stood on the ridge overlooking Concord and was destroyed in the first act of violence or politics allowed that day by British officers in Town. But what was this pole with banner and why was such significance attached to it by colonials and Regulars alike?The Summer of 1765 in Boston was marked by militant citizens demonstrating against the Stamp Act. On 14 August, two tax officials were burned in effigy from the limbs of an old elm tree (planted 1645) near Hanover Square. The tree, now a gathering site for the Sons of Liberty and other patriots, soon was named the "Liberty Tree" and often decorated with banners and lanterns. Assemblies were regularly held to express views and vent emotions. A flagstaff or pole was raised within the Tree's branches and when an ensign (usually red) was raised, the Sons of Liberty were to meet. As word of the Liberty Tree spread, other towns from Worcester, MA and Newport, RI to New York City and Savannah, GA adopted the symbol of dissent against Great Britain. Whether trees or poles (choice of convenience or preference), the statement made was similar - not so much anti-British as pro-loyalty to King while demonstrating strong dedication to the rights and freedoms of Englishmen. When selected, the symbol had to be central to the town, accessible and visible, especially to Tories and Regulars.
The pine tree had become a New England symbol of liberty, freedom, independence and strength and its image appeared on many a banner, coin and leaflet. Several possible flags might have flown in Concord, from solid red or red with a green pine tree on a white union in the upper left canton, to solid white with a green pine tree centered or blue with a red union on a white canton with a pine tree. Whichever, it was unfurled to April's breeze and along with the pole, was destroyed by Regulars. On 19 April 1776, Rev. Emerson in his anniversary oratory spoke, "On yonder Height the red-dressed Ruffians gather - with what envenomed Spite and eager Force they strike to level with the Earth the lofty Spire erected as a token of our Determination to enjoy liberty, or resign life: - it Falls! - they shout as if they gained a mighty Conquest, and robbed a whole people of all their dearest Rights and done the Feat that they were sent upon: - they shout again." The Regulars always took satisfaction in inflicting a sense of injury when destroying liberty poles. But reverse was fair play and when they cut down the Boston Liberty Tree for firewood, it fell sending to his death a British soldier.
Concord's destroyed Liberty Pole would be replaced and in future years the term would denote any spire used to display the people's or nation's flag. Edward Jarvis's 1810-20 map depicts the Town "Liberty Pole" (flagstaff) with a U.S. flag in position behind the Courthouse and a store (current Insurance Building and Town House). Henrietta Buttrick Hosmer in April 1939 remembered, "The old green flag-pole (liberty pole) that stood on the square at the time of the Civil War... about 1867 or 1868 it blew down... a new one put up in the same place". (Shown in the 1840 engraving at the top of this article.) Town Records state that a new liberty pole was erected at that location in the Fall 1874/Spring 1875 for the battle Centennial. It was replaced in 1939 following storm damage, painted white and first flew a flag on 17 April. Heights of the poles had increased from 8 to 10 feet in 1774 to some 125 feet in 1939.Thus, the current Monument Square flag pole which traces its ancestry to that 1774 Liberty Pole, still flies the people's ensign as a symbol of liberty, freedom, independence and strength. Neither a Regular's ax in 1775 nor a hurricane in 1938 could harm the continuing spirit of Concord's liberty pole and flag.
 
 
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Hurd mentions a specific flag (source?) and later Josephine L. Swayne (1939) refers to the same pine tree ensign. Yet contemporaries Allen French (1925) and Ruth Wheeler (1967) raise questions. French states that Concord's alarm company formed on a hill opposite the meetinghouse where also stood the liberty pole with a flag which the militia left flying when they retreated from Town. He wondered what flag was used. Wheeler writes "... up on the burial hill where a flag fluttered from the Liberty Pole - symbol of defiance to the illegal acts of Parliament... which flag is not recorded".