Race Location & Time: Lexington High School (Start/Finish) 10:30 AM | Sunday, May 25, 2025 Race Website & Registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Lexington/AAPI5kRunnWalkLexington?fbclid=IwY2xjawJmmJpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHoai7ADbjeXwskVpnixf8GF4mg7MwkrQptEqXPK-DSkDVXyevZx2PSh4v4VF_aem_JaD72bTZvkcARQbw5NYx0w Event Highlights: In partnership with…
Come see Lexington Violin School & Lexington Strings play “Sounds of the 1700s” and “Americana” repertoire to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of…
Come celebrate spring at the Discovery Day Street Fair in Lexington Center on Saturday, May 24th from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. No Rain Date.…
VO250 is more than a label—it’s a legacy. It tells a story that spans four centuries and captures the spirit that has defined Lexington since its founding: the power of volunteers to shape history.
In the 1700s, when everyday people—farmers, blacksmiths, ministers—stood together on April 19, 1775, they weren’t professional soldiers. They were volunteers, driven by principle and a shared sense of responsibility. Their courage didn’t just launch a revolution, it forged Lexington’s civic identity.
In the 1800s, that spirit continued to blossom. Concerned about the town’s appearance for the nation’s Centennial in 1876, Lexington residents created the Lexington Field & Garden Club, the first in the United States. Their efforts beautified streets, planted trees, and transformed the Common from a rough hayfield into a town green worthy of its legacy. Around the same time, the Lexington Historical Society and Cary Memorial Library were founded—both by residents who saw a need and volunteered together to fill it.
Then came the 1900s and, with them, a new symbol of Lexington’s volunteerism. In 1955, during the standardization of telephone systems, Lexington was assigned the prefix “VO” for “volunteer.” Local phone numbers began with VO2, which translates to today’s 862. The town didn’t choose that code. The phone company did. But it resonated because, in Lexington, “volunteer” isn’t just a word; it’s who we are. Long before hashtags and online organizing, Lexington’s phone lines were already echoing civic commitment. Many residents still have landlines beginning with “86”—a daily reminder of the values we live by.
VO250 is a celebration of Lexington’s 250 years since April 19, 1775. But more than that, it’s a tribute to the people who have made this town what it is—through vision, generosity, and service. It’s an invitation to carry that legacy forward.
