The shot heard 'round the world... 238 years ago!

[PALADIN85020]

In the early 1970s, it was my privilege, on a business trip to New England, to visit the historic revolutionary war sites of Lexington and Concord. It was thrilling to me to stand on the very green in Lexington where the first shots in our war for independence from Britain began.

It happened on April 19, 1775. It ignited the spark of freedom in the colonies that resulted in the formation of the United States of America.

How did the first shots occur? It's a history lesson that's worth understanding.

British General Gage had ordered Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith to take his 700 men to destroy "illegal" military arms and supplies stored at Concord. On the way, they were also to arrest John Adams and John Hancock as traitors. Word of the march toward Lexington and Concord became a rallying cry with men like Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott riding in warning. American colonists, no longer willing to allow Britain to take away their rights as free-born citizens, met the British regulars. Shots were fired and the American Revolution began.

In short, the American Revolution began because a tyrannical British government under King George III sought to take the colonists' guns. It was the final straw, and Americans chose to stand and fight rather than submit.

Here are two markers that commemorate the event at Lexington:

Today, we face an incredibly similar circumstance. Instead of redcoats on the march, we have many misguided lawmakers seeking the same ends as the British 238 years ago. Tyrants know that to enslave a people, the most effective way is to disarm them.

We must not permit this. The new rallying cry of the NRA is "Stand and Fight." And we must. The Second Amendment was drafted to prevent the very thing our forebears could not tolerate. We are on the verge of losing our right to arms. If you are not a member of the NRA, please join. Right now. Don't put it off. Our freedoms are at stake.

John

 

[pawncop]

Well said sir, well said.

 

[feralmerril]

I visited that area too. Right downtown concord was a very old cemetary that we walked through. The headstone epitaths were about the most interesting thing I seen on that trip.

 

[yaktamer]

Hard to believe that now it's illegal to sell bottled water in Concord. America was a nice experiment while it lasted.

 

[gunblade]

Was stationed at Hanscom AFB for 9 years back in the mid 80s and remember seeing those markers in Lexington square. Just outside the back gate near the town of Lincoln there was a historical marker that was supposed to be the spot where Paul Revere was captured before he finished his ride. Lots of history in that area around Concord, Lexington, & Bedford.

 

[Flathead]

I was raised in Bedford and visited all the historic sites many times. The sacrifices of our forefathers was drilled into us constantly. As a young adult I had the privilege of working on many historic homes and churches as well as the Concord Bridge. Those structures "spoke" to me. They were built to last by the same people who endeavored to create a free country that would stand through millenia. Their courage can not be overstated. If more citizens made the sojourn to our country's birthplace it would go a long way toward uniting us as a people.

 

[Lionhound]

Standing on Lexington Green made me feel as if I were in church. It's hallowed ground to me and would be a great place for our next president to take the oath of office

 

[mjr]

Very early on April 19, 1975 my friend Kim and I were driving from Boston back to Ashburnham, where we were employed as surveyors that spring. (I pretty much just held the dumb end of the chain. )

I had to talk Kim into stopping at Lexington for the Bicentennial reenactment of the first shots of the Revolution. There was snow on the ground, it was still dark, it was cold, and the British were late. I remember standing around, doing nothing much, for quite a while. Eventually the Redcoats showed up in three (maybe only two--it's been nearly 38 years) school buses, which were immediately pelted with snowballs.

The reenactment was pretty brief but very moving. I am so glad that I was there, 200 years after the original event.

 

[CW Spook]

I just noticed a Samuel Hadley among the casualties. I never knew that. Apparently I'm not the first member of the family to be opposed to despotic governments.

 

[Engine 21]

History all around New England

Today if you travel the trail between Lexington and Concord and especially around the Arlington area you cannot use a metal detector as there are artifacts still found on occasion. If you go to Buckman's tavern the original door is mounted inside with a Redcoat bullet in the door from that morning of April 19,1775. I also have seen a cemetary in the Plymouth area that is surrounded by the backyards of residential houses where British Redcoats are buried - some were only 17 when they died according to the grave marker. You cannot find this cemetary because you have to find the right driveway to walk up the path to it

 

[rwsmith]

Goose Bumps

Captain Parker's words give me goose bumps. Gallant memorials do that to me. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there is a teeny little sign off to the side explaining that the guard changes his rifle to the outside shoulder to symbolize that he is protecting the grave from outsiders. I'm really getting choked up just writing this.

 

[Texas Star]

This is the side of American history that an element in this country wants to repress. Alas, many of them are educators.

 

[Ray Vaughn]

This is the side of American history that an element in this country wants to repress. Alas, many of them are educators.

Who wants to suppress it? It is taught in each and every public school in this country and, if I am not mistaken we still have some holiday - in July I think.

 

[Roadtrash]

Look again, they teach less and less every year about our history. They teach more about politically correct stuff now than actual history. Things like WWII are covered in a paragraph or two now.

I went to public school many years ago and a lot of what I was taught is not being covered now in school.

 

[Texas Star]

Ray-

Because this board bans political discussions, I can't answer you the way I want to.

But the holidays are not in July. You are thinking of an American holiday, I believe, not the Texas holidays comemmorating our independence here, which was from Mexico, not from Britain. For about a decade, TX was an independent nation before joining the US.

What I want taught, regardless of whether it offends certain racial or social elements, is why we have what should be full holidays: Mar. 2 and Mar. 6. If you're so knowledgeable about such things, surely I need not tell you or your children why those days are significant. We used to celebrate them. Now, the media avoids even mentioning them. Of course, our talking heads often come from other states. One newswoman was more excited when reporting that In and Out burgers were coming to Texas than she was about Alamo Day. She's from California, and may even be unaware of Texas history, but is filled with the usual liberal attiude toward what she reports.

I realize that this has been mainly about the origins of the American Revolution, but even that is probably not taught as it should be. When I was a kid, Disney presented "Johnny Tremain" and, "The Swamp Fox" on TV. Would they do that now? (Ironically, Gen. Francis Marion was portrayed by a Canadian actor, Leslie Nielson.)

Instead if we hear about Thomas Jefferson, we hear that he owned slaves and might have had offspring from one light mulatto one. Is that the sum of this great man, who contributed so much to the formation of the USA?

 

[PALADIN85020]

Bump to top.

The message still stands: The Executive branch of the U.S. Government is after our guns, just like the British in 1775. In that year we fought to gain our independence, and our right to own arms freely. Now we are being told that what our ancestors fought for is wrong; that guns equivalent to those used by the military are not suitable for the citizenry. This is an outrage and an insult to the veterans of this country who fought in the Revolution and served in each successive generation to preserve our God-given freedoms.

Do not give up the sacred right to keep and bear arms, bought and paid for with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Stand and fight. Join the NRA. Do it today - please do not put this off. Your freedoms are at stake. If the Second Amendment is ultimately infringed, the country we know and love will be gone for future generations.

John

 

[bill2000]

Thank you for the bump of this thread John. When I first saw it I stole the picture of the monument for my desktop. I remember seeing this monument long ago when I was a boy. Brought a swelling of pride then as it does now.

"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
- George Washington

 

[Squarebutt]

There will be a rally for gun rights on Lexington Green on April 19. I am related to Jonathan Harrington, who died that day.

 

[Flathead]

April 19, Patriot's Day, was always a big day in Lexington. There were re-enactments on the Green and a huge parade. Even President Ford made an appearance for the bicentennial. I can't count how many tri-corner hats I owned. Unfortunately, I have been told it has been toned down over the years by long time residents (family). I hope the gun rally is a huge success "Where it all began".

 

[S&WIowegan]

Paladin is absolutely right! The crown allowed the colonists to be armed so they could participate in the many wars with Indians and other European countries. When armed colonials became problematic, the Crown had every right to disarm them since they were SUBJECTS, not citizens. And the rest is history.

Sadly, most citizens in the US are sheeple who would gladly give up the right to arms in return for safety and comfort. The nanny state is a natural result....the demand for more and more laws and rules and Federal bureaus to "correct" behaviours the sheeple don't like.

We should resist this as long as we can.