The Soap Yard

ruffles · Guru

Patriot's Day

KarenK · Guru

Happy Patriot's Day, Ruff!!! I did not make it up for the morning reenactment, but I did go down to the center for the sunrise youth parade. Many of my students were marching and they all shouted out to me -- made me feel like a real celebrity, LOL! I'm going to the big afternoon parade around 2:00. I've got a few students in that as well, but there are also a lot of bands from out of town (and state).

Let's see if I can post photos from the Battle Road reenactment on Saturday. It commemorates the British retreat back to Boston after the battles of Lexington and Concord. After the redcoats killed 8 Lexington militiamen, they marched on to Concord where militia units from all over the area had heard the alarm and were pouring in. The British began to retreat, but they were shot at from behind stone walls and trees.

-- Edited by KarenK on Monday 20th of April 2009 01:25:51 PM

-- Edited by KarenK on Monday 20th of April 2009 01:30:11 PM

KarenK · Guru

Hey, Ruff, I've got a couple of links for you. The first is to the Minutemen reenactors' site. It's kind of funny to me to read the "behind the scenes" instructions. They take it VERY seriously and try to be as historically accurate as possible.

http://www.lexingtonminutemen.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70:lexington-re-enactment-member-information&catid=51:lexington-minute-men&Itemid=77

Here's a link to an article in the Globe today. It includes a video:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/21/reliving_history_at_battle_of_lexington/

If you want to see the reenactment one of these years, just let me know. You could stay here the night before, then rise before dawn and try to see over the heads of the crowd. I bring a big bucket from Home Depot to stand on and I can see most of it. Another option is come for the dress rehearsal about 2 weeks before -- it's at 2 in the afternoon, a much more civilized hour! :D

-- Edited by KarenK on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 12:24:42 PM

ruffles · Guru

Yes I know they are highly serious about the authenticity because when our friend here was still participating in this, his significant other went with him. She was dressed in colonial costume with a long skirt and went out on the field near him. They came and told her she needed to leave. She was wearing her sneakers. Sneakers did not exist in the days of Paul Revere.

Love your most specialized and unique use for the Home Depot bucket! LOL!

Your generous offer is tempting. It would be wonderful to see you again, especially in the day time.

Those are great photos. Couldn't help but react to those very red Red Coats. It's "Hello! I'm a target! Here I am. Shoot me!"

KarenK · Guru

To put it into perspective, the British Empire was THE superpower of the world at that time. That 77 raggedy farmers with their old hunting muskets stood up to 700 redcoats is the truly amazing part of the story. The colonists, for the most part, still considered themselves "British," so Paul Revere never said "The British are coming"-- we were ALL British subjects at the time. He actually said "The regulars are out."

Just a little Lexington trivia! :D

Consider it a standing invitation (literally, standing on a bucket, LOL!). The dress rehearsal doesn't draw as big a crowd, so I don't think you'd need your Home Depot bucket. We could go to Starbucks or DD for some 21st century coffee after! ;) It's over in about 10 minutes, but it is surprisingly emotional and stirring.

-- Edited by KarenK on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 01:45:42 PM