In the final days leading up to April 19, the Lex250 Commission would like to highlight our members who have dedicated an incredible amount of time to making our 250th anniversary commemoration a success.
Today, we’re highlighting Barry Cunha!
What specific areas of the Commission’s work are you most passionate about?
As a lifelong resident of Lexington, I have always been proud of our unique place in American
History. As a result, I have been honored to serve as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
and President of the Historical Society, and still a current board member, but my passion has
always been our identity as the “Birthplace of American Liberty.” For that reason, I have been a member of the Lexington Minute Men since 1991, serving as past captain commanding from 2014-2016.
What do you think is the most important aspect of commemorating this milestone?
Having lived in different parts of the country, I was always dismayed when I mentioned I was
from Lexington and almost everyone thought of Kentucky or Virginia. I was surprised how little
people outside Massachusetts knew about the founding of our country and our role in it. I am
hoping this 250th commemoration of the Battle of Lexington will raise awareness in the rest of
the country and reinvigorate a sense of democracy and freedom that will cross political lines.
What event or moment are you most looking forward to as part of the 250th anniversary commemoration?
Personally, I am looking forward to the reenactment and hoping it inspires the spectators to
remember that freedom and democracy are not a given. Our Constitution is a remarkable piece
of legislation, one that must be upheld at all costs lest we spiral into autocracy or fascism. I
have faith in the American people, and as a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force am hopeful a
renewed sense of patriotism and pride in our country, along with the values so valiantly faced
by those first Patriots, will serve as an example of what it means to be an American.