Patriots' Weekend 2019

British Redcoats outside the Whittemore House on the Battle Road Battlefield, Minute Man National Historical Park. (Lexington, MA) Saturday April 13, 2019. NPS Photo

This year marked the 244th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. As the tradition has been since Massachusetts declared the third Monday of the Month as “Patriot’s Day” visitors turn out to experience the offerings in Minute Man National Historical Park as well as area communities which were involved on that day in 1775. The schedule of events is so broad and far reaching, several days are given to the celebration of the nation’s opening salvo in what would become the American War for Independence.

On Saturday, April 13, 2019, Minute Man National Historical Park presented its comprehensive presentation of the running battle, along the battle road battlefield in the area known as “Parker’s Revenge.” Over 300 hundred reenactors portrayed civilians, colonial minute and militia and British Army regulars. This location, on the Lincoln and Lexington town line, has recently been the focus of an archaeological investigation sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man, the NPS and the reenactment community. The artifacts uncovered from the area have been incorporated into a new exhibit and a detailed interpretation on the rally of Captain John Parker and the Lexington militia company, who were the first to encounter the British Army earlier in the day.

Sunday, events continued with a reenactment of the search of the Barrett Farm, one of the sites which was specifically named by General Thomas Gage as a place of interest which needed to be searched. Visitors stood by as the British army reenactors searched the farm house for military supplies. Over 400 hundred visitors had the chance to tour the Barrett house before the arrival of the soldiers.

Patriots Monday started off with torrents of rain. Several of the reenactors chose to forgo the events at North Bridge. Like the year before, rain promised to cancel the commemoration and Concord parade. Determined visitors showed up to see what may occur, and they were treated to an impromptu commemoration on North Bridge, followed by a smaller Concord parade.

Support from area and regional, national park units include: Gateway, Independence, Fort Stanwix, Boston, Valley Forge, Lowell, Longefellow, Salem, and Fort Necessity. As well as town emergency services from Lexington, Lincoln and Concord, as well as the Massachusetts State Police.

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