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Patriot’s Day

By lex, on April 19th, 2008

Haven’t heard of it? Jules has the scoop:

Patriots Day may be the least known American holiday, and the day most deserving of our recognition. Observed in Massachusetts and Maine only. Don

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April 19th, 2008 | Tags: | Category: History

11 comments to Patriot’s Day

  • AW1 Tim
    April 19, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Heh,

    Just got back from the waterfront in Bath. That same area was once the Masr Landing for timber. Shortly after the news spread of the action at Lexington and Concord, the British Mast Agent arrived to decure the quaota of timber for His Majesty’s ships. He was met by a rather boisterous crown, who explained to him that no further masts were going to be sent to “George the Turd” as he was then referred to, and that any further sight of the King’s agent(s) would be rudely met.

    Well, the idiot agent refused to leave peaceably without his load of timver, so the locals treated him to a new suit of tar and feathers, and sent him packing.

    Sometime later, a small British warship arriced, and failed to take note of several charted ledges. Although her crew was resued, the locals helped themselves to the guns and shot, 4 of which were used for the defenses of Bath during the war. One of them still sits in our city park.

    I mention this because I took the time to tell these stories to my youngest daughter today. She not only thought it interesting, but her eyes went wude when I pointed out that we were on the very fround where this occured so many years ago.

  • Zane
    April 19, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    AW1 Tim, had I any beer in this wine-swilling country, I’d hoist a stein for dear old Maine with you this night.

    Today my children and I romped around the Roman Antifeatro in Capua di Santa Maria, and while most of the seating has gone in this one, all the underground works are in excellent condition. Capua is most distinguished as being the first Roman amphitheater to hold gladiator matches. Spent some time in the local museum, and then one of the guides packed us in his tiny Fiat to drive us through the one-way streets to the Mithraeum, an underground gallery once used by the worshippers of Mithras, this one beautifully painted, somehow covered over during the early Christian era, and forgotten for almost two-thousand years until recently rediscovered during construction.

    I say this because the longer I am away from that shining city on a hill, the United States of America, the more I recognize just how incredibly and wonderfully unique our American story is, from the first New England settlers, on through the Ohio Valley, the Great Plains, Texas, the Rockies–each and every bit has more honor, more soul, more humanity than all the towers and battles of Europe. Goethe was right to say that we did well to rid ourselves of all the superstitions of old Europe. America is truly unparalleled in the history of the world.

    We had fun in Capua, and memories not to be forgotten, but my friend, your daughter got the better end of the day.

  • Humble1390
    April 19, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    You know, I never really appreciated Patriot’s Day growing up. It was just a day off of school or a paid day off work (time and a half if you worked it on Uncle Sam’s nickel). I think this is probably the first time I’ve ever known precisely what the genesis of this underappreciated holiday was.

    On an off topic note: what’s with the powder blue border around the saber/divider between stories? Aesthetically, I have to say I prefer a white background. Sir.

  • Phil Andrilla
    April 19, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Born and raised in Philadelphia, I never heard of Patriot’s Day!This should rank up there with the 4th of July, flags flying and fireworks.

    “George the Turd”…you gotta love that!

  • Asquared
    April 19, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    An excellent read along these lines is Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution…Twenty three veterans were also signers of the Constitution.
    I found my copy @ BOOKWORM & SILVERFISH Robert K. Wright, Jr. and Morris J.MacGregor, Jr. are the authors.

  • deBarra
    April 19, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    I highly recommend “Paul Revere’s Ride” by David Hackett Fischer and “Lexington and Concord” by Arthur Tourtellot to learn more about the fateful day and the events leading up to it. And for a hint of what it was like, visit Lexington Green for the annual re-enactment at 0600 on the observed Monday holiday.

    http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Reveres-David-Hackett-Fischer/dp/0195098315/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208659649&sr=8-1

    http://www.amazon.com/Lexington-Concord-Beginning-American-Revolution/dp/0393320561/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2

  • Bryan Strawser
    April 20, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    It was one of the few side benefits of living in massachusetts.

    Patriots day is a wonderful holiday – I encourage everyone to visit there sometime on that holiday and watch the reenactment of the british attempt to seize the munitions stored in lexington and concord.

    B

  • RonF
    April 20, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Ah, yes. A day off from school. “One if by land, two if by sea.” “The shot heard ’round the world.” “That rude bridge ….” The only major-league baseball game that starts in the morning. And the marathon – no, don’t ask which one. Absent the Olympics, there’s only one.

    And, BTW, a bunch of people who want to make sure that you all know that 9/11 isn’t Patriots Day; April 19th is.

  • Snake Eater
    April 21, 2008 at 6:39 am

    The Mainiacs, of course, failed to mention that at the time what is now The State of Maine was then the north eastern counties of The Massachusetts Bay Colony. ( in case you’ve forgotten… Maine the north’s half of the Missouri Comprise became a state in 1820…many still think the south got the better deal)…

    Other unique Bay State holidays …Bunker Hill Day- June 17, 1775 and Evacuation Day- March 17, 1776 ( Suffolk County i.e. essentially Boston, only) celebrates the regulars evacuating Boston under threat of bambardment from the cannon captured at Fort Ticonderoga and brought to Dorchester Heights. Best

  • GEO6
    April 21, 2008 at 8:23 am

    AW1 Tim,

    My ancestor was from across the river from you in Pownalboro (now Woolwich). He was a member of Cobb’s Company of Minutemen. It wouldn’t have surprised me that he was party to the reception of the King’s representative. That company marched to Boston and joined the main Army under Washington for the Siege. He remained behind when Cobb’s company returned to Lincoln County and joined a Mass Continental Regiment serving until ’78. Lost his health at Valley Forge ’77’78. Didn’t effect his other mechanics of nature as he fathered 20 children from the woman he married upon returning to Pownalboro. God bless her!

  • Kris, in New England
    April 21, 2008 at 9:54 am

    Having just watched the final episode in the HBO miniseries – John Adams – I’m filled with renewed pride at what my country is all about. And even more proud that I live in the heart of where it all started.
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