Recently, you’ve heard a lot about Patriot’s Day, but what is it?
Painting – ‘My Brother Has Been Shot’ by William Barnes Wollen
It commemorates the initial battle of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord Massachusetts, on 19 April, 1775, over a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Paul Revere’s ride to warn his fellow patriots and this ‘Shot heard round the world’ have been passed down in story and song from generation to generation.
April 19th remains an important date not only for the nation, but in particular for the US Army and the National Guard as the militia, made up of Citizen-Soldiers, fought a feint to maintain their weapons and ammunition that had been recently moved from the magazine at Concord to other, safe locations.
As the initial volleys of fire were exchanged near daybreak at Lexington, colonial volunteers fell back in the face of over 500 occupying British troops. But as the battle moved on to Concord the tide turned and the redcoats were routed as more and more colonists joined the fray.
As the British troops withdrew through Concord they were reinforced creating a force of 1700, yet they remained no match for the determined colonists who forced them to retreat to the safety of Charlestown. The militiamen continued their pursuit which transformed into the Siege of Boston.
Today, we remember those that sacrificed everything they were to give us our freedoms and this great land.
Yes, and I just “love” how quickly some elements of the lamestream media jumped to the speculative conclusion that it must have been “patriots” who planted the bombs at the Boston Marathon.
I guess they’re speculating out of the back side of their faces now…
You saw my comments regarding this on Facebook. Don’t jinx us.
Thank God for the citizens this country has had in order for us to be who we are today. On a side note, let the good citizens in that same area have your prayers as they hunt the remaining terrorist. My thoughts and prayers are particularly with the officers and their families involved in the shootout last night and the victims and the families of these two ass-hats.
“occupying British troops”? I don’t mean to be a faeces mixer, but. Weren’t these 13 British colonies, inhabited by British citizens? So the British army was deployed on it’s own territory. Unless you are First Nations and you see them as an occupying army. Until there was a tax issue the British army was probably viewed not much differently then anywhere else in British territory they were deployed. GW himself had been a British officer.
Well done Massachusetts police and FBI! Stiff upper lip people of Boston area. My heart is with you.
Yeah occupying. I realize that the whole, “the yanks kicked our ass twice” era is probably glazed over in school in the UK, but I’d say that British troops in Boston were considered occupiers from right around the Boston Massacre on.
And thanks for standing with us through the current war. As a nation, we appreciate it.
Twice? We are family, sometimes disfunctional but still family. I actually have family in CA and Detroit. As well as the UK.
What really annoys me is people I meet or hear in all 3 coutries that slag the others. The number of times I talked to someone in Liverpool who would say glad to meet you as long as your not an American. This was during the cold war with the hole cruise missle thing really pissed me off! These are same idiots who celbrated the passing of Lady Thatcher. Over things like the Faulklands and the IRA. Stupid. Then Americans who would slag Canada for not blindly following US policy, we can disagree. Dopy Canadians who blindly critisize US policy just because. Our different foot print in the world helps us all too (Argo). We are all in this together. Just because someone says something doesn’t mean they speak for the country no matter what job they have.
That would be the George Washington who never told a lie – except when he swore an oath of loyalty to the King. Never mind, forgive and forget. I’m sure her majesty would have you back if you want to swap trade BamBam in.
BTB. Why were they only revolting in the 13 colonies. Why didn’t the Canadians join in?
Actually schools in the UK take a surprisingly Americentric view of the ‘American War of Independence’ as it is known here. Washington is usually portrayed as heroic and the ‘British military leadership as incompetent dilettantes.
The reality that it was civil war with a petty nasty insurgency is generally overlooked on both sides of the Atlantic. Hollywood rubbish like Gibson’s ‘The Patriot’ don’t help.
The reality that it was civil war with a petty nasty insurgency is generally overlooked on both sides of the Atlantic.
Amen, tar and feathering was a common occurrence.
As for the Canadians…that’s a good question. Any ideas?
Canada wasn’t much back then maybe 90 000 over quite a large area. Most weren’t that connected to the other colonies. After the cival war-revolution there was a big move to the north. A lot of bad blood for decades after. Then when the US Invaded Canada it got real bad again. One of the Canadian/British heroines of 1812, Laura Secord, was from Massachusetts. As I under stand it a good percentage of Upper Canada at the time were from the US.
Why doesn’t the US teach about the sacking of York? A succesful amphibius landing, probably your first.