Greetings, I am Samuel Chester Reid, a man of the sea, born on August 24, 1783, in Norwich, Connecticut. I proudly served in the United States Navy, commanding the privateer General Armstrong during the War of 1812. Additionally, I am honored to have played a role in the design of the 1818 version of the flag of the United States, preserving its thirteen stripes and adding stars to represent each state of our great nation.