Today is Patriot's Day - when we commemorate the first battles of the Revolutionary War. What does Patriot's Day mean to you?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:32:17 -0400

Patriot's Day marks the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Does your state celebrate this holiday? Do you participate in any events or commemorate it in some way?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 17 at 2017 9:34 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:34:32 -0400

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton wow, I did not know of this: It means DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY, selfless service to a grateful nation!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 17 at 2017 9:45 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:45:16 -0400

I don't know of anything Special here in Kansas City, I'm sure there is something being the HQ of the VFW but I've been out of the loop for a while. "What does it Mean to You" It's a Great Giggle thinking about 3 guys Dr Samuel Prescott, William Dawes (Great Grandpa) and Paul Revere rushing off into the Night an Damn if these 3 guys didn't Run into a British Roadblock. Bad Luck. Revere was Arrested, Prescott Escaped on His Horse and somehow Grandpa thru a Little Trickery Escaped the British Soldiers.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Apr 17 at 2017 10:27 PM

Maj William W. 'Bill' Price — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 22:27:21 -0400

While I cannot claim the heritage of PO1 Nagel, SN Vivien Roman-Hampton, I'm very much aware of Patriot's Day. There are no celebrations in North Carolina that I am aware of. But as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, it is certainly an event that falls within our family calendar. Thanks for posting this.

Response by PFC Roger Goff made Apr 17 at 2017 11:56 PM

PFC Roger Goff — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 23:56:16 -0400

I'll be adding Patriots Day to my calendar, and celebrating it in the future.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Apr 18 at 2017 12:23 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:23:21 -0400

Patriots Day is a State holiday in Massachusetts and much of the battle activities of April 19th 1775 ar reenacted along the Old Battle Road which runs from Lexington to Concord. Patriots Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr Prescott's famous ride to warm the British Regulars are the march to Lexington and Concord is reenacted also. the lanterns are still hung in the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston to signal the movement of the British Troops. The miles of Battle road are still lined with the original homes, farms and taverns of 1775 and are all part of the Minuteman National Historic park. Three of My own relatives Marched from Sudbury, MA with the Minutemen to battle the British at Old North Bridge in Concord. Shown below are Minutemen marching to battle in the 1st picture to face the British Troops in the 2nd picture. The 3rd picture is British Troops crossing old North bridge where a large Force of Minutemen from several Towns await on the other side of that bridge. Picture 4 is the Minutemen from Sudbury marching from the Wayside Inn to battle the British at Old North Bridge. Those Minutemen with others from Cities and Town in Middlesex country responded to the call to battle. Earlier in the morning after an overnight march a battle had taken place in Lexington and the British continued their march to Concord. As a point of interest the Wayside Inn is the oldest operating in in the United States and still serves food and drink. Back in the 1600s it was known as "Howe's Tavern" The Howes were My relatives and owners of that inn and one was a Colonel of the Militia and the other two privates that fought at Concord.

In other activities the Boston Marathon is also run on Patriot's Day each year.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2017 10:46 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:46:35 -0400

I celebrate Freedom and Liberty EVERY day. I am related to Timothy Matlack, Penman of the Declaration of Independence, Colonial Army Colonel, and much more. See below.
https://www.geni.com/people/Colonel-Timothy-Matlack-Scribe-of-the-Declaration-of-Independence/ [login to see] 160469596

Colonel Timothy Matlack, Scribe of the "Declaration of Independence"

Genealogy profile for Colonel Timothy Matlack, Scribe of the "Declaration of Independence"

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Apr 18 at 2017 6:02 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 18:02:04 -0400

Patriots day is a regional holiday and only a few towns get the day off, not the whole state. I'd be surprised is other states observe Patriots Day (though Lexington, KY is named so because the town had just been founded when news reached them of the Battle of Lexington so they named their new town "Lexington" to commemorate the event). It's unofficially called "Marathon Monday" since the Boston Marathon is always held on Patriots Day.

I grew up in Cambridge and so we got the day off as did, Boston, Lexington, Concord, Arlington and I think Somerville. It's a big holiday here. The National Park maintains a six mile stretch of land that generally follows a section of road the English took on their way to and from Boston. Every year there are reenactments as well as a "Tough Ruck." The ruck event raises money for a local service charity and used to be held on the Boston Marathon route (moved to the park after the 2013 bombings). In it's new location the Tough Ruck not only mirrors the Boston Marathon but also commemorates the 38+ miles the British had to walk that day as well as the however many miles the Minutemen traveled to meet them.

Response by MAJ Bill Darling made Apr 18 at 2017 6:13 PM

MAJ Bill Darling — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 18:13:49 -0400

As a kid, it was April Vacation and maybe watching the Boston Marathon on TV. I think we may have had a parade in my hometown but I could be conflating that with Memorial Day.

I live in NH now, which doesn't celebrate it (despite the proximity, it's only MA and ME) so I don't really celebrate it any more.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 19 at 2017 3:39 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 15:39:20 -0400

The State of Tennessee does not celebrate Patriot's Day, SN Vivien Roman-Hampton, but my travels have taken me to Massachusetts many times and I have toured Lexington and Concord more than once, and stood before the Minuteman statue. It's where the American Revolutionary War started! SMSgt Lawrence McCarter