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 Vice Chair Monami Roy!
What specific areas of the Commission’s work are you most passionate about?
I’m especially passionate about the Commission’s intentional focus on inclusive, truth-telling history. Patriotism is not blind allegiance; it is a deep, unwavering commitment to the ideals upon which America was founded — justice, equality, and liberty for all. But we must also recognize that the very documents that proclaimed those ideals were built on compromises that excluded entire groups — enslaved individuals, Indigenous peoples, women, and non-landowning men.
Here in Lexington, where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired, we are reminded that the fight for freedom has always been imperfect, incomplete, and ongoing. I’m honored to support work that doesn’t just glorify the past, but interrogates it, invites diverse voices into the narrative, and ensures that we tell the whole story — from 1775 through today. Our Countdown Calendar, the Parade and future VO250 volunteer initiative reflect our shared commitment to building community, expanding access, and celebrating Lexington’s vibrant diversity.
What do you think is the most important aspect of commemorating this milestone?
To love America is not to ignore its foundational inequities but to confront them. As the child of immigrants, I don’t take America’s promises for granted. I know they must be fought for, expanded, and defended. A more perfect union is not something we inherit — it is something we build.
That is why this Semiquincentennial matters. It is our opportunity to recommit to the unfinished work of democracy, to examine how far we’ve come — and how far we still have to go. The most important aspect of this commemoration is ensuring that everyone connected to Lexington — regardless of background, identity, or length of residency — feels that this is their celebration. We want every voice, every perspective, every story to be valued and visible.
What event or moment are you most looking forward to as part of the 250th anniversary commemoration?
I’m always deeply moved by the Reenactment — there’s something profound about watching history come alive in the very place where it happened. But this year, I’m especially looking forward to the Battle Green Rededication on April 19. That moment — standing on hallowed ground to honor the sacrifices made here — will be a powerful reminder that Lexington is not just where the American Revolution began, but where the ideals of democracy were first tested in action.
Throughout the year, those of us who live here enjoy the Battle Green as a place of rest, reflection, and community. But on Patriots’ Day, it transforms into something sacred. People from around the world come to stand where the first shots were fired—not only to remember the past, but to recommit to the promise of liberty, justice, and equality.
The Battle Green Rededication, marking the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, will be more than a ceremony — it will be a civic renewal. It invites us to reflect not only on where we started, but on where we still must go.