The Lex250 Commission held a Kickoff Press Conference on Thursday, April 17. (Photo Courtesy Lex250)
LEXINGTON — The Town of Lexington and the Lex250 Commission officially launched the Lex250 commemorations today with a press conference in front of the Lexington Minuteman Statue, near the Battle Green, marking the beginning of a multi-day slate of events for Patriots’ Day Weekend.
Community members, local and state officials, historians, and media gathered at the symbolic heart of the American Revolution, as town leaders reflected on Lexington’s critical place in history and previewed the wide-ranging events to come.
“Starting today, Lexington will begin its portfolio of events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington — the very place where the American Revolution began,” said Chair Suzie Barry, who emceed the press conference. “Over the past three years, our Lex250 Commission has worked tirelessly with partners across local, state, and national levels to ensure that this commemoration honors both our past and the generations who will carry this legacy forward.”
Speakers at the event included:
- Lexington Town Manager Steve Bartha
- Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll
- US Army Public Affairs Specialist Hannah Frenchick
- Documentarian Ken Burns
- Lexington Fire Chief Derek Sencabaugh
- Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Brantley
“I want to thank the Lex250 Commission and the entire Town of Lexington for all of the work that has gone into commemorating this historic milestone,” Lt. Gov. Driscoll said. “When you live in a community that other people read about in their history books, it comes with a responsibility. You are stewards of this history, and you have served us well. This amazing display of work and effort in showcasing our nation’s founding does not happen without a whole lot of help and everybody in town pitching in — public services, public safety, town manager, Select Board, everyday residents who live here stepping up to make sure the rest of us can enjoy an amazing celebration. On behalf of the Governor and the Commonwealth, I want to say thank you to every member of the Lexington community who has made this possible.”
Burns spoke about Lexington’s role in 1775 just hours before sharing a preview of his six-part, 12-hour history of the American Revolution that PBS will begin broadcasting and streaming in November,
Burns said he’s been coming to Lexington for almost 55 years and Thursday was “the best day that I’ve ever been here.”
“What happened here on April 19th, 1775, changed the entire world,” Burns said. “It was the birth of a new form of government. We, before that, were subjects, after this moment we were citizens. The great responsibility of citizenship is something that we have carried in our self, in our work, and have exported all across the globe. It seems to me that as we begin to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the starting of our Revolution and the founding of our nation, it’s an opportunity to reinvigorate what we are about. Let us put into these celebrations the ‘us’ back into the United States.”
Speakers shared highlights of the events commemorating the anniversary celebration and provided insights on what attendees can expect.
“Two and a half centuries ago, brave men and women in this community took a stand that helped shape the birth of a nation,” Town Manager Bartha said. “Today, we reflect on that legacy, and over the next several days, we will honor their sacrifice through a series of outstanding events.”
For more information on the schedule of events, parking, spectator guidelines and more, visit Lex250.org.
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