USS Lexington Ceremony
April 19 @ 9:00 am
Join us for a special USS Lexington Ceremony commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, the historic clash that ignited the American Revolution. On the morning of April 19, 1775, colonial militia and British Regulars exchanged the “shot heard ’round the world” on Lexington Green, marking the very beginning of America’s fight for independence. This annual ceremony honors that legacy – not only remembering the patriots who fell in 1775, but also celebrating the enduring ties between the Town of Lexington and the five U.S. Navy vessels that proudly bore the name “USS Lexington” in later years. In this Semiquincentennial year, the commemoration is especially meaningful, uniting historians, veterans, local residents, and visitors in tribute to 250 years of courage and sacrifice.
Hosted by:
The Lexington Lions Club, in partnership with the Town of Lexington. Veterans, Gold Star Mothers, and former crew member families of USS Lexington (CV-2 and CV-16) will be honored guests and participants. Local dignitaries and officials will also be in attendance.
Location: USS Lexington Memorial – adjacent to the Lexington Visitors Center, 1875 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA. (Ceremony will take place outdoors, next to the Visitors Center in Lexington Center.)
Admission: Free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. No tickets or reservations required.
Accessibility: The memorial site is wheelchair accessible, and seating may be available for seniors/veterans. Visitors Center facilities (restrooms, information desk) will be open for attendees.
Ceremony Highlights
Commemorative Program: The ceremony will begin with a presentation of the colors and the National Anthem. A moment of silence will honor the patriots of 1775 and the naval service members connected to Lexington’s legacy.
Wreath-Laying: In a poignant tribute, wreaths will be laid at the USS Lexington Memorial to honor all who sacrificed – from the Lexington Minutemen who fell on the Green to the sailors who served on the five USS Lexington ships. This solemn wreath-laying is a central part of the observance each year, symbolizing our community’s respect and remembrance.
Guest Speakers: Attendees will hear brief remarks from invited speakers who bring personal and historical perspectives. Local historians will reflect on Lexington’s role at the dawn of the Revolution, while military veterans (including representatives of the USS Lexington CV-16 Association) will share what the name Lexington means to those who served at sea. Town officials and community leaders are also expected to speak, underscoring Lexington’s continued dedication to honoring its history.
Honoring the USS Lexington Legacy: A key theme of the ceremony is celebrating the service of the five naval vessels named Lexington. The program will highlight stories from each ship’s history – for instance, noting the WW-II exploits of “Lady Lex” and the “Blue Ghost,” or recalling how the first Lexington was named for the very battle we commemorate. By connecting these narratives, the ceremony paints a vivid picture of Lexington’s impact on American history both on land and at sea.
Community Involvement: The event will include patriotic music performed by the Lexington High School Band. Members of local organizations – from the Lexington Minute Men Company to the Lexington Veterans Association – will participate, standing alongside active-duty military representatives and public safety color guards. This joint involvement emphasizes the community-wide respect for those who defend our freedom.
As this is the Semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary, the 2025 ceremony may feature special recognitions. Keep an eye out for any historical reenactors or ceremonial salutes incorporated into the program to mark this once-in-a-generation milestone. The tone of the event will be both educational and commemorative – suitable for history enthusiasts and families alike. Attending the USS Lexington Ceremony is a chance to witness history come alive, and to be part of Lexington’s ongoing story of remembrance and patriotism.
Historical Background: Lexington’s Legacy from 1775 to WWII
The Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775 was the first battle of the American Revolution. Facing a column of British Redcoats at dawn, Lexington’s minutemen bravely stood their ground; though outnumbered, their defiance sparked a war that would lead to American independence. The heroism shown on Lexington Green resonated across the colonies and the world, embedding the town’s name in the annals of history. To honor that courageous stand, the young American navy christened one of its first warships USS Lexington in 1776, “renamed in honor of the courageous Lexington minutemen”. This 16-gun brigantine captured multiple British ships before ultimately being overpowered off the French coast, demonstrating that the spirit of Lexington was present at sea in the Revolution’s earliest days.
Over the next two centuries, five U.S. Navy ships would carry the name USS Lexington, each embodying the valor and fighting spirit of 1775. The second Lexington (a sloop-of-war launched in 1825) upheld American interests from the Falkland Islands to the coast of Japan in the 1800s. The third, a Civil War timberclad gunboat, spearheaded Union river operations – fighting in key battles like Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and the Vicksburg campaign. In the 20th century, the name Lexington reached new prominence with two famed aircraft carriers. USS Lexington (CV-2) – nicknamed “Lady Lex” – was built in Quincy, MA and became one of the U.S. Navy’s first fleet carriers. In World War II, Lady Lex’s air squadrons scored a crucial victory by sinking the first Japanese aircraft carrier of the war (at the Battle of the Coral Sea), before Lexington (CV-2) was herself lost in that 1942 battle. Her successor, USS Lexington (CV-16) – the “Blue Ghost” – was also built at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy and commissioned in Boston in 1943. The Blue Ghost earned an illustrious combat record in the Pacific, participating in 35 engagements and earning 11 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation for her service. (In fact, more aircraft landed on Lexington (CV-16) than on any other carrier in history, a testament to her long service as a training carrier after the war.) Through each of these vessels – from a Revolutionary War brigantine to a WW-II fleet carrier – the name Lexington has symbolized American perseverance. The annual USS Lexington Ceremony brings this remarkable legacy home, connecting the town’s pivotal Revolutionary moment with the bravery of sailors who served on the Lexington ships in later generations.
The USS Lexington Memorial in Lexington
Located adjacent to the Lexington Visitors Center, the USS Lexington Memorial is a striking tribute that bridges local and naval history. The memorial consists of five granite markers, each dedicated to one of the five ships named Lexington, and “dedicated to the memory of those who served aboard” these Navy vessels. Erected in 1988 through a joint effort by the Lexington Lions Club and veterans from USS Lexington (CV-2 and CV-16), the monument ensures that the service of all Lexington crews – from 1776 through World War II – is forever remembered in the heart of the town. Each stone marker bears a brief history of a USS Lexington, allowing visitors to reflect on the ships’ heroic exploits (for example, the Civil War gunboat’s valor at Shiloh, or the carriers’ Pacific triumphs) as they stroll through this small memorial park. Fittingly, the USS Lexington ship’s bell is also on display at the Visitors Center next door, offering a tangible piece of naval history for visitors to see up close. The memorial has become a beloved landmark—externally viewable year-round—and a focal point for community remembrance. For decades, Lexington’s citizens and veterans have gathered at this memorial each Patriots’ Day to pay tribute. Every year on the Patriots’ Day holiday (the third Monday in April), the Lexington Lions Club joins forces with surviving crew members of USS Lexington (from the WWII-era carriers) to hold a remembrance ceremony. This tradition carries on in 2025 with added significance, as the town marks 250 years since the battle that gave Lexington its name. The memorial stands not just as a record of naval history, but as a symbol of the town’s pride and the continuing bond between Lexington and the U.S. armed forces.
