Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Forster Flag" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Canvas board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 33c Forster Flag Classic Collection Series stamp issued June 14, 2000. The American Revolution began on April 19, 1775, when Minutemen and redcoats engaged in battle for the first time at Lexington and Concord. British general Thomas Gage had ordered his army to secretly destroy an American supply depot at Concord, Massachusetts. When Joseph Warren, a Boston doctor, found out about the plans, he sent patriot leaders Paul Revere and William Dawes to ride the 16 miles from Boston to Lexington on the road to Concord and arouse the colonists. The British army arrived in Lexington at dawn on April 19, 1775. They were met by Captain John Parker and his band of Minutemen on the village green. No one knows which side fired the first shot, but several colonists were killed. The British continued marching toward Concord, where they destroyed the targeted military stores. The shots fired at Lexington had aroused the colonists in the area, who joined the Minutemen and drove the British out of Concord and back to Boston. The Forster flag is a British flag that was reportedly captured by the Minutemen on April 19, 1775 -- the historic day that marked the beginning of the American Revolution. Image Size: 18 x 13 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 15 in. Unframed. (B16782)