Annual Patriots' Day events start April 11

  • Published
  • By Jessica Casserly
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Annual Patriots' Day celebrations are scheduled to take place in local towns throughout the month of April.

Patriots' Day, a Massachusetts State holiday, commemorates the opening battle of the American Revolution in 1775. This year, the holiday will be officially observed April 20, but events take place throughout the month.

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/patriots-day.htm, call the park at 978-369-6993, view the Battle Road website at www.battleroad.org or go to the Lexington History website at
www.lexingtonhistory.org

Saturday, April 11
Bedford Parade and Pole Capping
The Bedford Parade and Pole Capping will take place at 10:30 a.m. at Wilson Park. Minutemen from throughout New England will convene on the town common and march to Wilson Park to watch the official pole capping tradition. A minuteman will proclaim freedom by climbing up a 25-foot pole and placing a red cap atop it, in defiance of King George.

Meriam's Corner Exercise
Meriam's Corner is on Lexington Road, one mile east of Concord Center. The event begins at 1 p.m. 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 running retreat back to Boston. Tour the Meriam House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Paul Revere Capture Ceremony
The event takes place at the Paul Revere Capture Site, Route 2A, in Lincoln at 3 p.m. The Lincoln Minute Men will march down Battle Road and narrate the story of Paul Revere's capture at the actual site.

Saturday, April 18
Parker's Revenge
Lexington Minutemen gather on the Lexington Battle Green at 10 a.m. to reenact the second call to arms from Captain Parker. Following this event, the Minutemen will march to Parker's Revenge site near the Minute Man Visitor Center on Route 2A in Lexington for a wreath laying ceremony.

U.S. Army "Old Guard" Patriotic Performance
The demonstration takes place at the Lexington Battle Green at 12 p.m. A historic outdoor performance will occur, featuring the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard. Members of the U.S. Army Drill Team, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and the Commander-in-Chief's Guard from Fort Myer, Va., will demonstrate the precision and discipline embodies in Army Soldiers for more than 239 years.

Dawn Salute
Takes place at North Bridge in Concord at 6 a.m. Bells at the First Parish Church will toll at 5:45 a.m. to sound the alarm that the British Regulars are on the march. Concord Minutemen will fire salutes and the Concord Independent Battery fire volleys from the field at the Old Manse, close to North Bridge.

"Armed as According to Law"
This Living History event takes place at the North Bridge in Concord. Presented by Minute man NHP and the Concord Museum, see a full-strength minute company of about 40 men demonstrate drills and musket firing.

Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
The arrival occurs at the North Bridge in Concord at approximately 11:30 a.m. The Sudbury Militia will fire three musket volleys as a soldierly salute in honor of their townsmen of 1775 who made a similar march on April 19.

Sunday, April 19
Warlike Preparations at the Barrett Farm
Event takes place at the Colonel James Barrett House, Barrett's Mill Road, in Concord from 1 to 4 p.m. In 1775, Col. James Barrett of Concord was responsible for safeguarding all the military supplies in town and his house was searched by British soldiers during their mission to Concord. Visit the Barrett House and experience the intense military preparations that helped launch America into the Revolutionary War.

Monday, April 20
Battle Reenactment - Lexington Green
The Town of Lexington celebrates the start of the American Revolution with a reenactment of the early morning engagement between the town's militia and the British regulars. The reenactment begins at 5:30 a.m.

Dawn Tribute
The salute takes place at the Old Meting House Cemetery at 6:45 a.m. The Lincoln Minute Men will salute the Patriots buried in the cemetery as they emerge from the mists of the burial ground for roll call. Fifers play a lament and the muskets fire a volley.

Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight and Concord Patriot's Day Parade
These events will take place at the North Bridge in Concord at 8:45 a.m. British and Colonial reenactors will commemorate the "Shot heard round the world" with a dramatic re-staging of the North Bridge fight featuring marching and musket fire. The Concord Parade will arrive at North Bridge around 9:30 a.m. It is important to note that all of the roads in the center of town are closed to vehicles beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Lexington Afternoon Parade
The annual afternoon parade celebrating Patriots' Day 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. Please be aware that parking for the event will be extremely limited and road closures and detours will be in place.