An Appeal to Heaven Flag

The An Appeal to Heaven flag, also known as the Pine Tree flag, originated in the American Revolutionary era. George Washington ordered colonial vessels to fly it as a naval ensign in 1775. It later served as the maritime flag of Massachusetts from 1776 until 1971. The pine tree symbolized New England strength and resilience, and the motto, drawn from John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, expressed an appeal to a higher moral authority in the defense of liberty.