Happy Patriots Day ...

[cmeisenzahl]

Sometimes spelled "Patriots", sometimes "Patriot's." Regardless, let's not forget.

YouTube - Schoolhouse Rock - The Shot Heard 'Round the World
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM

Today's Document from the National Archives
"Deposition of Captain John Parker Concerning the Battle at Lexington, 04/25/1775 Deposition of Captain John Parker Concerning the Battle at Lexington, 04/25/1775 (ARC Identifier: 595246); Massachusetts State Papers, 1775 - 1787; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1765 - 1821; Record Group 360; National Archives"
http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=419

Today in History: April 19
"On April 19, 1775, British and American soldiers exchanged fire in the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord. On the night of April 18, the royal governor of Massachusetts, General Thomas Gage, commanded by King George III to suppress the rebellious Americans, had ordered 700 British soldiers, under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith and Marine Major John Pitcairn, to seize the colonists' military stores in Concord, some 20 miles west of Boston."
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr19.html

Minute Man National Historical Park - Patriot's Day (U.S. National Park Service)
"Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriot's Day. Patriot's Day is a special Massachusetts State holiday commemorating the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. The holiday (Officially observed on Monday, April 21, 2008), indeed the entire weekend, is celebrated with parades, a historical reenactment at Lexington Green, commemorative events at Concord's North Bridge and along the Battle Road."
http://www.nps.gov/mima/patriots-day.htm

 

[geepondy]

I get Monday off from work. I plan on watching the rest of the Red Sox game after I finish running the marathon (kidding of course). Looks like the weather is supposed to be seasonable and good for the runners (mid 50s to low 60s). Once in awhile we will have a hot Boston Patriot's Day and then the runners have to work pretty hard.

 

[nerdgineer]

IIRC, the British were marching to destroy a local armory where the colonists had cached weapons when all this happened. So the "keep and bear arms" thing was not incidental to the Revolutionary war and the subsequent constitutional amendment, it was a core element as well as a flashpoint. Hence, our unique 2nd Amendment (where they had to go back and edit the document to correct what they'd left out...).

Since I'm recalling this, I should point out that, despite joking and occasional snide remarks nowadays, we owed a great debt to France for her critical (and expensive for her) contributions to the US victory. They were our best and first friends then.

I used the past tense "owed" because the US did it's best to repay that debt, with interest, two times in the 20th century, and I think we did. But at some deep level, I'd like to think US and France remain brothers in blood for those 3 big, shared wars where we fought on the same side.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Patriot]

I like Patriot's day!!!


Seriously, I really do.