Evacuation Day 2021

Previous Event

This event occurred in the past. For news on the upcoming Evacuation Day commemoration, visit the Dorchester Heights home page on Boston National Historical Park's website.

For over a hundred years the South Boston Citizen’s Association has sponsored the Evacuation Day Ceremony at Dorchester Heights - almost always on March 17.

For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of both the March 17 ceremony and the Evacuation Day Parade. We were very fortunate this year to be able to create and present a wonderful video for the people of South Boston and their love for Dorchester Heights.

Embed

Copy

Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details

Duration:7 minutes, 57 seconds

On March 17, 1776, occupying British forces evacuated Boston a little over a week after Continental soldiers seized the Heights of Dorchester, thus ending the Siege of Boston. This was the first major strategic and political victory for the Continental Army led by General George Washington. Join local Bostonians as they reflect on the importance of Dorchester Heights' place in history and what it still means today.

In order to produce the video, we edited down the speeches of our public officials. We wanted to make sure all of their remarks are preserved for this important day and we present them here.

Charlie Baker, Massachusetts Governor

Watch Governor Baker's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:2 minutes, 33 seconds

Marty Walsh, Mayor of Boston

Watch Mayor Walsh's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:1 minute, 7 seconds

Nick Collins, Massachusetts State Senator, 1st Suffolk District

Watch State Senator Nick Collins' Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:1 minute, 48 seconds

David Biele, State Representative, 4th Suffolk District

Watch State Representative David Biele's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:1 minute, 55 seconds

Ed Flynn, City Councilor

Watch City Councilor Flynn's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:44.67 seconds

Michael Flaherty, City Councilor, At-Large

Watch City Councilor, At Large, Michael Flaherty's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:1 minute, 26 seconds

Bernie O'Donell, Chairman of Evacuation Day 2021

Watch Evacuation Day 2021 Chairman and previous President South Boston Citizens' Association Bernie O'Donell's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:2 minutes, 36 seconds

Tommy McGrath, President of the South Boston Citizens' Association

Watch President of the South Boston Citizens' Association Tommy McGrath's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:1 minute, 23 seconds

Robert Allison, PhD, Suffolk University

Watch Dr. Robert Allison's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:1 minute, 1 second

Major General Gary W. Keefe, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard

Watch the Major General Keefe's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:2 minutes, 20 seconds

Michael Creasey, Superintendent of the National Parks of Boston

Watch Superintendent Creasey's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.

Duration:4 minutes, 20 seconds

Where this belongs

• Boston National Historical Park

Where this page came from

This page was imported from National Park Service. Produced by the U.S. National Park Service and, as a work of the United States government, in the public domain.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.