You’ve probably heard about Paul Revere’s ride and the ‘shot heard round the world’. April 19th, Patriot’s Day, marks what we consider the beginning of the American Revolution, well over a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Interestingly, I grew up in the 70s and 80s watching ABC’s Schoolhouse Rock series on Saturday mornings and regularly seeing this little gem. Sure, it’s a little off on the facts, but can you imagine one of the major networks playing something so patriotic today? It’s not even 40 years on. Such a shame that, as a people, we don’t look at our country the same way anymore.
Each Patriot’s Day, I remember those men at Concord and consider what it must have been for them to stand there in the face of the world’s greatest army and take up arms in the defense of their colony from oppression.
Consider this:
This militia came together on that morning to protect their arms from seizure by an oppressive government. That is a fact. It’s not meant to be inflammatory or support an agenda, but it will upset some nevertheless.
“Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
-John Parker
Captain of Militia
As the initial volleys of fire were exchanged near daybreak on Lexington Green, 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. Now boasting a strength of 1700 men, they remained no match for the determined colonists who forced them to retreat to the safety of Charlestown in Boston. The militiamen continued their pursuit which transformed into the Siege of Boston.
Today, join me in remembering those American warriors who pledged their lives to give us our hard fought freedoms and this great land.
I was born and raised in Boston. The saddest thing is how far MA has strayed from traditional constitutional values. Lexington and Concord are hallowed ground.
I too watched this on Saturday mornings while growing up. I some small part it helped lead me to a life of public service and to this day I still remember the chorus “get your powder, get your gun, report to General Washington”.
I have 24 ancestors that fought to free this country from tyranny. Sad that the New King George is doing the same thing!
P.S. Our independence was started by a sortie to round up militia arms and ammunition. Sounds like modern day NY and Conn to me.
An interesting new TV series just started, “Turn”, about the early days of the Revolution. The “Loyallists” and the Brits call our Forefathers “Insurgents” and “Terrorists.” It has caused me to reflect on how history would have portrayed them had we not won our independence. Worth watching if for nothing else than that.
The origin of the word terrorist dates to 1795, so the British would not have used it during the American Revolution.
The British could have used the word insurgent, but in that they would be correct- as the revolutionaries were carrying out an insurrection.
There has only been a moral “bad” connotation implied with the word insurgent in the west in the last 60 yrs or so.
I still see our country in the same light as lit by our Founding Fathers. I even perceive that light to burn brighter now than back then. What I don’t see in the same light anymore is the politicians. We have a system that operates in reverse of what it was meant to be. The people are governed by the federal government rather than the federal government being goverened by the people. As someone who has volunteered much of my time to the needy, I am astutely aware of what it’s it like to serve someone. I’ve also been the needy being served. What I can tell you from tjose experiences is that we are not being served, we are under subjection. The sad thing is that most of the population believes this is the way it was meant to be. They have been duped. This veil that has been pulled over their eyes did not come about by chance, it was done intentionality. When you round up your livestock and herd them into the same pen, it’s easier to control tnem all.
Several of my ancestors fought and died for independence during the revolution. Despite being from a very “liberal” family, we have always had pride and reverence for our family and country’s heritage. It pains me greatly to see so many otherwise sensible Americans, happily denouncing, and actively bashing the USA as if it is something to be ashamed of.
In this day and age I feel it is more important than ever, that we collectively recognize the significance of our Country’s origins, and the implications of what our Forefathers strove to achieve. Otherwise, I fear history may be destined to repeat itself. Those who feel that The Bill of Rights, are somewhat archaic and out of touch with “modern sensibilities”, are simply fools. Many Americans, and unfortunately many of its politicians, are completely out of touch with what it means to be an American.
“colonial volunteers fell back in the face of over 500 OCCUPYING British troops.”
– Occupying?
While this was an important event, lets not start pushing revisionist history. The “colonists” were British. Remeber that most of those colonists didn’t even support the revolution. There were no occupying British troops- as until the war was over, the colony was British, and the leaders of the revolution- who became the founding fathers later- were considered radicals.
If the British troops were “occupiers”, than any federal force that has set foot in the Southern US are occupiers as well.
The radicals won. The winner gets to write the history.
Yes, occupying. After the Boston riots of 1768, British troops were continuously stationed in the city. The point was to attempt to keep a lid on a rather incindiary situation made progressively worse by a series of ”intolerable acts”. I’d call that occupying.
I suppose it depends on how you apply the word.
You can occupy a building or space, or be occupied by your work.
However in this case I believe the word was intended to imply conquest. You cannot conquer what is already yours.
The founders wanted to have no standing army, because of the potential for misuse- this point in time was well before any of that had been expressed, and it was convention to have your own troops on your own soil. British colonies and British troops.
All the Marathon hupla has eclipsed this important date. Im not talking about the bombings (Boston Strong relentless coverage). They have been calling today “Marathon Monday” for years, all though Patriots day is a state holiday…