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Patriots' Day Facts

Patriots' Day Facts
Patriots' Day is a civic holiday in April commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. These were the American Revolutionary War's first battles. Patriots' Day is observed in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, but it is not a holiday in Wisconsin. It is also encouraged to celebrate this anniversary in Florida, but it is not a holiday in that state. Until 1969 the holiday was celebrated on April 19th each year, which was the actual date of the battles. In 1969 the holiday was moved to fall on the third Monday of April. Re-enactments are one common way of honoring the anniversary, and the Boston Marathon is also held on this day each year.
Interesting Patriots' Day Facts:
On April 19th, 1775 Massachusetts militia stood against 700 British troops. The British troops were on their way to Concord to raid a stockpile of weapons.
The Massachusetts militia (referred to as minutemen) took their cue from Samuel Prescott, William Dawes, and Paul Revere on that day.
The first shot of the American Revolutionary War occurred on April 19th, 1775. It is referred to as the 'Shot heard 'round the world'. The first shot resulted in a gun battle that ended with the deaths of eight minutemen. No British died at Lexington and they continued on to Concord.
The British lost the battle at Concord and they retreated to Boston in defeat.
The American revolutionary War led to America's independence. Up until the late 1700s most of the Eastern U.S. was under British rule as British colonies.
In Maine and in Massachusetts Patriots' Day is a state holiday and all state, county and municipal government offices are closed.
Tennessee and Florida both recognize Patriots' Day but neither treat it as a public holiday.
The battle re-enactments of this important day in America's history take place at Lexington Green and at the Old North Bridge.
Part of the re-enactment includes a ride along the route that Paul Revere and William Dawes took to warn minutemen of the next morning's raid by the British.
In Wisconsin, where Patriots' Day is not a holiday, children are still taught about the events of April 19th on the same day.
Some of the celebrations people participate in on Patriots' Day include costume parades, flag raisings, ringing the bell that warned the minutemen, attending concerts, road races, and sporting events.
Some years Patriots' Day and Tax Day fall on the same calendar date. This allows people in Maine and in Massachusetts to file a day later because of their state holiday.
The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and has been held every year on Patriots' Day since 1897. It began with only 18 entrants in 1897. Today the number of entries averages 20,000. This marathon also attracts approximately half a million spectators each year.
Patriots' Day is not the same as Patriot Day. Patriot Day is the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United Sates.
Since 1959 the Boston Red Sox have been scheduled to play a home game on Patriots' Day at Fenway Park.


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