Raising the Flag for the Fourth on Homer Road

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Photo: Gregory Arabian raising the flag in front of his house on Homer Road. 

If you have never heard of Israel Bissell, then you should come by and ask Gregory Arabian.

The Homer Road resident held a July 4th flag raising on Friday, July 3 at this house with a contingency of Belmont Fire – including Chief David Frizzell who came with Engine 1 – and Belmont Police present to honor a great, but now relatively unknown American Patriot.

Bissell, it turns out, was a 23-year-old post rider ordered by John Hancock in April 1775 to spread the word of the Battle of Lexington and Concord down the east coast from Watertown to Harford, New York and Philadelphia.

“That act help unite the United States of America,” said the attorney whose practice is located in Watertown.

The retired US Air Force officer and Commander of the Belmont AMVETS Post 2008 said that “many things are forgotten. July 4th is forgotten. July 4th is remembered only for barbecues, days off.”

“But the reason why July 4th is so important is that we are independent and free and we should enjoy this nation,” he said.

And to the sounds of the “National Anthem,” Arabian raised the flag – which flew over the Capitol Building in Washington DC – to honor those freedoms.

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Stormy Fourth: Belmont Could See Wet Independence Day

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While fireworks and cannons are what many are expecting this coming Friday Fourth of July, the weather could be just as explosive early on this holiday weekend. 

But while much of the talk has been directed southward with the possible development of the season's first tropical storm, a major cold front sweeping from the Midwest is likely to disrupt your holiday plans.

At 5:35 a.m. today, Tuesday, July 1, The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather forecast for eastern Massachusetts beginning Wednesday night, July 2 with "a few strong thunderstorms are possible late Wednesday into Friday afternoon. 

"These storms could approach severe levels" with the main threat being "isolated damaging wind gusts with a secondary concern for large hail."

The NWS said the most likely place for this weather to occur is west of Worcester.

Yet forecasts are indicating that July 3 and Independence Day will be wet in the area with rain anticipated for both days. "There is the potential for widespread heavy rain and localized flash flooding Thursday into Friday night," according to the NWS. 

The latest news from down South is that the tropical depression now lingering off the east coast of Florida will strengthen and head up the Eastern Seaboard but will be pushed out into the Atlantic by the cold front that will be bringing the rain into Belmont. But it will likely increase the surf and tides along the New England coast beginning on Saturday.