Stars and Stripes Forever

This morning it wasn’t just Flag Day on Cambridge Common it was a birthday party for the Army. Protests broke out amidst the celebration, though the Army held ground with greater firepower. The protesters asserted that the Army was attempting to recruit more Soldiers for a "useless war." But, Bostonist isn’t really surprised that in Cambridge, or pretty much anywhere in Massachusetts, there might be some protests to go along with a celebration honoring the Army. Reports have the count at three arrests made by Cambridge Police, no word yet on how many people may be detained as enemy combatants. Just yesterday we found out that there are actually Republicans north of the Charles. (Exploding manholes too)
The Army’s office of Public Affairs described the lively ceremony as a "signature event". For Bostonist this usually means they’re going to serve free wine. No such luck today, just fife and drum corps:

230th Army Birthday Signature Event, Cambridge, Mass. 11 a.m. — A national celebration on the Cambridge Common, birthplace of the United States Army. Activities include performances by The U.S. Army Drill Team, Old Guard Continental Color Guard, Fife and Drum Corps; demonstration reenactments; a wreath-laying; and remarks by the Under Secretary of the Army.

Cambridge lays claim to be actual birthplace of the U.S. Army, a whole year before the Declaration of Independence. Bostonist supposes Phillyist might give us a fight for this claim (if they were around) as the militia was in Cambridge, but the decree was made by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. With a parachute jump from a chopper the Army seems to have advanced quite a bit in the last 230 years. George Washington rode his horse up to Cambridge from Philly, he certainly didn’t think to take the Blackhawk Helicopter used in today’s ceremony.