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It’s the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Lexington and Concord went big.
Both towns held numerous events in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial.
In the early morning of April 19, 1775, British troops clashed with American colonists in the fateful Battles of Lexington and Concord. It marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the fight for independence.
Now, 250 years after that historic April 19, Lexington and Concord celebrated with reenactments, parades, and other events to honor the United States Semiquincentennial.
The day started early in both towns, with a 5:15 a.m. reenactment of the Battle of Lexington followed by pancake breakfasts in Lexington and a 6 a.m. dawn salute in Concord. Lexington hosted its 111th Patriots’ Day 5-Mile Road Race, its annual USS Lexington Ceremony commemorating the battle and its legacy, and a tree dedication ceremony hosted by the Lexington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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There was a rededication of the Lexington Battle Green featuring a skydiving performance by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, patriotic songs played by the U.S. Army Fife & Drum Corps, and precision drills performed by the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard.
“The Army was born from and built by citizen soldiers who answered the initial call at Lexington,” said Massachusetts Army National Guard Brigadier General Mark E. Kalin at the event. “Among these militia units was the first battalion, 181st infantry regiment, which traces its lineage directly to those early patriots in the North regiment who took the field here 250 years ago.”
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Approximately 2,700 marchers, reenactors, and performers participated in a 2.5-mile parade along Massachusetts Avenue from Maple Street to Worthen Road.
Concord also hosted a parade with a ceremony at Old North Bridge, followed by an afternoon town-wide block party.
The day ended with performances — Lexington’s Bicentennial Band, formed in 1974 in preparation for the 200th anniversary of the Battle on the Green and playing ever since, performed music inspired by the revolutionary period, Concord hosted a drone show at Concord-Carlisle High School.
Here’s what the scene looked like in Lexington and Concord:
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