Mystic — Scouts from Mystic Troop 76 help raise the flag to celebrate Flag Day Friday at the Mystic Liberty Pole at Holmes and East Main. Scouts, along with member of the Mystic VFW Post 3263 and members of the Mystic Flag Committee led the ceremonies.

Retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Al McLaughlin played "To The Colors" for the raising. The VFW members led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The flag raising was followed by the flag committee's annual meeting and breakfast at the adjacent S&P Oyster House.

June 14, 1777 is the day the second Continental Congress formally adopted the 13 red and white stripes and white stars on a blue field on the flag to represent the colonies in the war of independence. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing June 14 as Flag Day. A 1949 act of Congress further established the commemoration.

Mystic's first Liberty Pole was erected in 1862, on the Groton side of the Mystic River. It was moved to the Stonington side of the river in 1876, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1885. Shortly thereafter, a new pole was erected at the present site.