Local towns to host annual Patriots' Day events Published March 28, 2016 By Jessica Casserly 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Members of Team Hanscom can participate in annual Patriots' Day celebrations scheduled to take place in local towns throughout the month of April. Patriots' Day commemorates the opening battle of the American Revolution in 1775. The 2016 holiday will be officially observed April 18, but events will take place throughout April. "Patriots' Day is important to the Town of Lexington, because it signifies the beginning of the American Revolution," said Lorain Marquis, Lexington Town Celebrations Committee co-chair. "We are still benefiting from the bravery of these men by the freedom we all share today." Towns like Lexington encourage base personnel to take part in local events, Marquis said. "We encourage Hanscom personnel to take part in our Patriots' Day events, because we regard the base as a special part of our community," Marquis said. "We are proud of our military. They protect what our Minutemen started and ensure our freedom." The following are a sampling of events taking place around the area. For further information, please visit the Minute Man National Historical Park website at www.nps.gov/mima/, view the Battle Road website at www.battleroad.org/ or go to the Lexington History website at www.lexingtonhistory.org/events.html. Saturday, April 9 Bedford Liberty Pole Capping The Bedford Liberty Pole Capping will take place at 10:30 a.m. at Wilson Park. Colonial troops from throughout New England will convene on the town common and march to Wilson Park. A Bedford Minuteman will then climb a 25-foot pole and place a red cap atop it, in defiance of King George. Meriam's Corner Exercise The town of Concord, joined by area minute men companies, will commemorate the fight at Meriam's Corner that began the Redcoat's six-hour frantic retreat back to Boston. Meriam's Corner is on Lexington Road, one mile east of Concord Center. The event will begin at 1 p.m. Paul Revere Capture Ceremony The Lincoln Minute Men will lead a march down Battle Road to observe the historic capture of Paul Revere. The event will take place at the Paul Revere Capture Site, Route 2A, in Lincoln at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16 Parker's Revenge British and Colonial re-enactors will demonstrate tactical weapons engagement and recreate the battle that took place on the border of Lincoln and Lexington. The event, which takes place on the Battle Road Trail, will involve musket firing and battle action. The Battle Road trail is located behind the Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, in Lexington. Parking is available at Minuteman Regional High School. The event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. "Armed as According to Law" This Living History event depicts Capt. David Brown's Company, a nearly-full-strength recreated minute man company. The event will include drill maneuver demonstrations and musket firings. The demonstrations will take place at the North Bridge in Concord from 7 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and will continue at the Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord, from 1 p.m. 5 p.m. Sunday, April 17 Warlike Preparations at the Barrett Farm The Barrett House will recreate the military preparations lead by Col. James Barrett of Concord in 1775 that helped launch America into the Revolutionary War. Tours will be available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Revolutionary Dogs: "Paws for the Cause" Park Ranger Roger Fuller, and his pug, Cricket, will lead this 45-minute walk along Battle Road to explore the lives of dogs in Colonial America and in the Revolution. The walk is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the Minute Man Visitor Center, Route 2A, in Lexington and the event is open to all. Monday, April 18 Battle Re-enactment - Lexington Green Lexington will celebrate the start of the American Revolution with a re-enactment of the early morning engagement between the town's militia and the British regulars. The re-enactment will begin at 5:30 a.m. be aware that road closures and detours will be in place for the event. Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight and Concord Patriots' Day Parade The Concord events will commence at the North Bridge at 8:45 a.m. British and Colonial re-enactors will commemorate the "shot heard round the world" with a re-staging of the North Bridge fight featuring marching and musket fire. The Concord Parade is scheduled to arrive at North Bridge at 9:30 a.m. It is important to note that all roads in the center of Concord will be closed to vehicles beginning at 8:30 a.m. Lexington Afternoon Parade Lexington's annual Patriots' Day parade will take place at 2 p.m. The parade route will begin at Massachusetts Avenue and Maple Street in East Lexington and proceed west along Massachusetts Avenue through Lexington Center. Be aware that parking for the event will be extremely limited and road closures and detours will be in place. Tuesday, April 19 Dawn Salute The Concord Minute Men and the Concord Independent Battery will observe the opening battle of the American Revolution with a 21 musket and cannon salute. The event will take place at the North Bridge in Concord at 6 a.m. Arrival of the Sudbury Militia The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute Men will mark the anniversary of the April 19, 1775 march to Concord with their own march from the Town of Sudbury to the North Bridge in Concord. The group will fire three musket volleys from the North Bridge to salute their fellow townsmen who made the 1775 march. The Sudbury Militia should arrive at the North Bridge at approximately 11:30 a.m.