Perhaps you’ve seen some of these signs along the side of roads in Swanzey, Richmond and Winchester. I’m not sure if there’s signs in any other towns, but these say, “An Appeal to Heaven,” in the middle is a pine tree and then underneath “NHExit.org.”
OK, so what is this? Some of us first heard of this flag when it was brought to the public’s attention as it was reportedly flown at the New Jersey vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in summer of 2023. Mike Johnson (R-La.) Speaker of the House, has one displayed outside his office in the Capitol building. It was also carried by some of the insurrectionists in their attempt to over take the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
A little background history about this particular flag: the pine tree has a long history of New England symbolism as it was flown as far back as 1686 on colonial merchant ships and was known as the “Flag of New England.” It was designed by a Colonel Joseph Reed who was General George Washington’s secretary. The flag thus became a symbol of anger and resistance for the colonists as the Revolutionary War loomed in the near future.
New Hampshire colonists, resentful of restrictions placed on harvesting the wood, staged the Pine Tree Riot which took place in Weare in 1772, as a strong protest against British rule. The pine tree also appeared on the flag that colonists carried at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, 1775.
Unfortunately, this “Appeal to Heaven” flag has become a symbol for far-right extremists and Trump supporters. In addition to the unsuccessful insurrection, this flag has appeared at many of Trump’s hate rallies. It is also deeply-rooted in the rhetoric of Christian Nationalism. According to Simmons College (Kentucky) professor and author Jemar Tisby, the American Revolution is viewed by these far-right groups as a “righteous rebellion against an unjust, intrusive government.”
As an aside, the “Gadsden” flag was also flown during the Revolutionary War and has been making a comeback at far-right rallies. It is a black snake on a yellow background proclaiming “Don’t Tread on Me.” It has become a symbol for conservative and libertarian groups.
So, getting back to the local signs after this little bit of flag history... Apparently, they are brought to us by a Flat Earth Society member from Winchester. Russell Kanning, who ran for and lost his bid to sit on the Winchester school board. To learn more about NHExit, click on the link above.