BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY 250th ANNIVERSARY–WHAT A GLORIOUS MORNING FOR AMERICA
Recently, on Saturday April 19, 2025, I had the privilege along with 25,000 others
Citizens and guests that braved getting-up early for a decent seat around 330am or 4am to witness the reenactment of the “shot heard round the world” in Lexington, Massachusetts at the town center green commemorating the start of the American Revolutionary war on April 19, 1775. The battle between the British soldiers and local colonialists continued at the Old North Bridge in Concord and back to Boston.
Paul Revere charged with notifying the towns militia referred to as “Minutemen” by horseback was captured by the British on the outskirts of Lexington. His colleague, William Dawes was stopped as well but Dr. Samuel Prescott who aided later in the mission was able to make it through the British lines to warn the townspeople and militiamen in Concord that “The Regulars (The British) were coming.” The previous night, the lanterns in the Old North Church in Boston signaled 2 Lanterns, as it was not “1th by land,” it was “2th by sea” giving Paul Revere and Colleagues more time to notify the Minutemen to prepare as the British regulars crossed the Charles river out of Boston by boat. The British Regulars mission was to destroy munitions in Concord.
In Lexington on the Common Green, it wasn’t much of a fight to start, heavily outnumbered and without shelter or an element of surprise, the British Officers ordered the Minutemen Militia to disarm and go home. Captain John Parker of Lexington stated to his men “Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fire upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” Somehow a shot rang-out, and columns of British “Regulars with Bayonets” killed 8 citizens, that were later buried on the Lexington Green. The Minutemen quickly dispersed and regrouped for later than day where Captain Parker of Lexington got his revenge! as the British Regulars retreated back to Boston along the road back.
History was a big deal growing-up in our town, area, and our family. I saw President Ford in 1975 at the Bi-Centennial commemorating the 200th anniversary of April 19, 1775, who spoke to a cheering crowd on that beautiful spring day. I will admit, the crowds were so big in 1975 early am, that 10-year-old David left the reenactment with my friends before it was over to be first to get in line for the annual pancake breakfast with my friends. And the parade both morning and afternoon was the largest in its’ history. Likewise, the 250th celebration was fabulous day with unseasonably warm temperatures hitting 80 degrees and sunny, with tens of thousands of patriotic Americans that for the most part celebrated this great history and not the politics of the day.
Getting back to the first battle at Lexington that glorious morning, the most famous person killed was Jonathon Harrington, a prominent Lexington militiaman who dragged himself after being shot to his doorstep on the edge of the Lexington Green and died. Soon thereafter British “Regulars” were off to Concord screaming “Hazzah” in victory so they thought.
Later that very fateful day, the British under General Thomas Gage were beaten back in Concord at the “Rude Bridge that arched the flood,” where the first British soldiers were killed and buried by the Old North Bridge in Concord. It states above their grave near the bridge, “Three Thousand Miles they came, to keep the past on the throne, unheard beyond the ocean tide, their English mother made her moan.”
After the fight at Concord, the retreat was a perilous and painful one for the British. where the real fighting continued through Concord, Lexington, and Monotony (modern-day Arlington). By the time the British marched back to their garrison in Boston, the British Regulars took a pounding with 73 Dead, 174 Wounded, and 26 missing (273 Total) while the colonists suffered roughly a third with 49 Dead and 39 Wounded and 5 Missing/Captured (93 total).
Later President John Adams reflected on April 19, 1775, in a letter to his wife Abigail Adams, dated April 26, 1775, Adams stated “The Die is cast. The Rubicon is passed (reflecting on Caesars’ crossing the Rubicon river), the sword is now drawn, and God knows when it will be sheathed.”
Word spread fast and the colonies were galvanized. It was the Revolutionary point of No Return. What a Glorious Morning for America.
