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 Cerise Jalelian-Keim!
What specific areas of the Commission’s work are you most passionate about?
The Lex250 Commission has inspired engaging dialogue, active collaboration and working partnerships among many stakeholders, including all the volunteers who have been working behind the scenes without expectation of recognition to make the 250th Anniversary visible to all. I have been most passionate about the Commission’s work with the reenactor community and all of the people who have been cheerfully working to ensure that the historical First Shot is portrayed accurately and inclusively to all members of our communities and the world at large. Shout out to The Lexington Minutemen, William Diamond Fife & Drum Corps, our business community, generous donors, town staff and the hundreds of community volunteers who have made the planning process enjoyable. We are delighted to present Lexington, Massachusetts, to the world as one of the most amazing communities in which to live and raise our families.
What do you think is the most important aspect of commemorating this milestone?
The important aspects of commemorating this historic milestone are forging friendships through civic engagement and bringing together generations of people who are making this 250th Anniversary memorable. I was on the Masonic Float in the 1975 Lexington Parade with the Rainbow Girls, Arlington Assembly #36. I plan to dedicate my Rainbow regalia and jewels to the Year 2075 time capsule with the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum at the dedication this April, 2025.
What event or moment are you most looking forward to as part of the 250th anniversary commemoration?
The most memorable event commemorating the 250th Anniversary was the Drone Show on October 20, 2024, hosted by the Town of Lexington, with the generous sponsorship of a private donor. The event was originally intended to celebrate 100 days To Go until April 19, 2025. However, the Drone Show united our community in unforeseen ways by providing a new and exciting alternative to fireworks, while also delivering an historical perspective to the spectacle. The Drone Show production honored the visions of our historical community and included an unforgettable sound track narrated by many of our friends and family. Working on the amazing Drone Show production team was one of my life’s most valuable learning experiences.