While some may argue that the Boston Massacre marks the beginning of the Revolutionary War due to the deaths of the Colonists, the events of April 19th, 1775 mark the first shots from an American Army, on British troops, starting a war that would last for over eight years and see the ascendency of the American Eagle over this land we now call the United States.
This battle is also where we draw our concept of the iconic Minute Man from.
Each Patriot’s Day, I remember those men at Concord and consider what it must have been for them to stand there together, in the face of the world’s greatest army and take up arms in the defense of their colony from oppression.
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.
The British troops retreated through Concord where they were reinforced. Despite 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.
Its an historic day. Fighting against the illegal seasure of arms is a patriotic act. It was patriotic in 1775 and it would be in 2017 here and anywhere in the world.
Merica.
The Boston Marathon has eclipsed the real reason for the holiday “Patriots Day” here in Mass. To the point where most local media call it “Marathon Monday”. Its a shame. kids probably don’t know who Paul Revere was.
I was born in Boston and that, saddly, is true
I’ll probably get visited by some 3 letter government group, but America feels as if it’s primed for another revolution /civil war. Things are tense or the media wants it portrayed in that manner. Honestly the America I grew up with as a kid of the 80s is gone and that wasn’t really that long ago.
Same can be said of the 40s, 50s etc. But we seem to have eroded the IDEA of America away from new generations.
Hold on….someones knocking on the door. Be right back….
Get a grip guy. Try growing up in the USA in the seventies and tell me more about your angst.
Try that with growing up in the 60s. It also interesting how most calendered list Patriots Day as 9/11 now and don’t mention April 19.
9/11 is Patriot Day, Patriot’s Day is April 19th.
Good stuff.
“take up arms in the defense of their colony from oppression” – is this the ‘oppression’ of having a legitimate government insist on the laws of the land being followed, or the ‘oppression’ of having Britons living in the UK pay all the costs of running the colonies?
Don’t get me wrong, there is a great deal to admire in modern America, but the nation creation myth American’s tell themselves is more than a little warped.
I think we have rather different ideas on what makes a government “legitimate”. The whole “Taxation without Representation” issue stirred up resentment for good reason.
The issue lies with WHY they were taking up arms, and it’s not that Britons in the UK were paying the costs of running the colonies, considering the riches brought back to the UK from the US. The issue lies with the taxation with no input, and a lack of address of grievances. Including the stamp act, which the colony’s paid, and the UK did not.
Mac….thanks for trolling this post. It’s always fun to see how people like to play the Internet and lose. And thanks too for not having the cajones to sign your real name to your post…what a bold stand for the position you are taking.
It’s the difference between being subjects and citizens.
As one who can trace his lineage back to the Mayflower (John Alden) and 17 family members were pensioners of the Revolution, you can take that post and shove it up your 4th point of contact! Intolerable Acts ring a bell? Gage trying to seize arms and munitions? You sound like a Tory.
“Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” – CPT Parker, Lexington Militia
Your use of the phrase “Creation Myth” is a bit obtuse, as it implies that the revolution didn’t happen (though I assure you, it did). For a better grasp on why the colonists revolted, try reading the Declaration of Independence–they quite specifically listed multiple grievances, and not all had to do with taxes.
By the way, “American’s” should be written Americans’ as it is plural possessive. You know, King’s English and all that.
I had the opportunity to tour the historic battlefields of Lexington and Concord during a trip to Boston a couple years ago. I was surprised at how deeply emotionally moving it was. I had plenty of time to stand on the village green and the bridge at Concord and ponder the events. The graves of some British soldiers killed in the action were at Concord, very close to where they fell.
It’s an awesome experience to visit these sites.
A friend with us spit on the graves of the British soldiers spontaneously and said it was a very “liberating” experience.
🙂
I don’t think that’s particularly pleasant. Fairly sure the British troops had no great desire to fight their kin, particularly in the early years. They were not the Nazi Stormtrooper’s of the time, despite Hollywood’s two dimensional portrayl.
Uh, Jim, tell that to the people the British Regulars bayoneted that day:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_Concord
Or what happened in Falmouth, Massachusetts (now Portland, Maine):
http://www.davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/american-revolution-against-british-gun-control.html
Or what happened at Bunker Hill:
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-bunker-hill
Only the threat of annihilation in an indefensible position ended the 7+ year British military occupation of Boston:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-evacuate-boston
Oh, and the personally owned weapons and other private properties that were seized from Bostonians left with the British troops and were not returned.
Samuel Whittmore