Washington Elm
The Washington Elm was a tree in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where General Washington took command of his troops.
Background
Under the elm known as the Washington Elm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the 4th of July, Washington's commission was read in the presence of a detachment of the army and the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts when he took command.
These events prepared the way for united action; therefore, in this year the first record of a desire for some settled form of naval standard is found, "that our vessels may know each other," General Washington was appealed to and he, with two officers about to command cruisers, in October, 1775, selected the "Pine Tree Flag," a white field with a pine tree in the center and the motto "An Appeal to Heaven."[1]
