Patriot’s Day Observance

Patriot’s Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord. These battles were fought on April 19, 1775 near Boton, Massachusetts and are widely regarded as the start of the American Revolutionary War.

Patriot’s Day 2021

On April 18, the Fairfax Resolves Chapter held a commemoration of Patriots’ Day at Arlington National Cemetery. The event reflected on the developments surrounding the Battles of Lexington and Concord that happened 246 years ago. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the on-site presence was limited. Most participated virtually.

The ceremony took place at the Lexington Minutemen Memorial which honors the sacrifice of eight members of the Lexington Militia who gave their lives in the cause of Liberty at Lexington, the first engagement of the Revolutionary War in 1775. We also honored the 49 patriots who lost their lives at Concord on the same day.

The commemoration this year included the readings of eleven first-hand accounts of the two battles, read by SAR and DAR members. These accounts told the story of that day, from the orders of General Gage, to the skirmish at Lexington Common, to the battle at Concord Bridge and the British retreat. These accounts included that of Alice Stearns Abbot, a citizen of Bedford, Massachusetts. Her account emphasizes how important the homestead was to success in that war. Alice stated:

I was eleven years of age, and my sisters Rachel and Susannah were older. We all heard the alarm, and were up and ready to help fit out father and brother, who made an early start for Concord. We were set to work making cartridges and assisting mother in cooking for the army. We sent of a large quantity of food for the soldiers, who had left home so early that they had but little breakfast. We were frightened by hearing the noise of the guns at Concord; our home was near the river, and the sound was conducted by the water. I suppose it was a dreadful day in our home, and sad; indeed, for our brother, so dearly loved, never came home.

Event greetings were provided Jack Manning, President General, National Society, Sons of the American Revolution; Jeff Thomas, President, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution; Sara Cox, President, Virginia Society, Children of the American Revolution. Other attendees included Brooks Lyles, Past Vice President General and Vice Commander of the National Color Guard; Ken Bonner, Color Guard Commander Virginia State Society; Jay A. Deloach, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.), President of the North Carolina Society; representatives of three Virginia DAR Districts and of The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America from Virginia and North Carolina. Also attending were representatives of 13 Virginia and North Carolina SAR Chapters, 14 Virginia and North Carolina DAR Chapters and the Col. Alexander Spotswood Society of the Virginia Society, Children of the American Revolution. Twenty Color Guardsmen from Virginia and North Carolina also took part in the commemoration.