Lincoln Minute Men
  
Events for April, 2009     

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                  In Recognition of a Proud Legacy

 The Town of Lincoln re-established its company of Minute Men in 1966, and charged them with the duty of keeping alive the history and the principles of the original Minute Men of 1775. The modern Lincoln Minute Men seek to do this in many ways, but especially in activities that will arouse the interest and enthusiasm of our young people in learning about Lincoln's glorious place in American history.

Each year the Lincoln Minute Men stage public events in April, to recall the drama of 1775. In addition, throughout the year, the Lincoln Minute Men appear as historical interpreters before hundreds of visitors, in the National Park and at Elder Hostel gatherings. And in appearances that bring the greatest pleasure and pride, the Lincoln Minute Men visit the classes of more than 500 Lincoln school children each year, to bring the Revolution alive in the classroom.

The Lincoln Minute Men are always eager to welcome new members. No obligation is imposed, beyond a willingness to share the enjoyment of provoking smiles and questions from young and old. No skill is required, beyond knowing your left foot from your right (and the Minute Men can even teach you that, if necessary). Membership is open to all, regardless of age or gender.

Or perhaps you would prefer to be a Friend of the Lincoln Minute Men rather than a recruit. If so, a contribution will help the Minute Men defray the costs of the uniforms, equipment, and materials needed for their educational activities each year. Contributions payable to The Lincoln Minute Men may be mailed to P.O. Box 1775, Lincoln, MA 01773, and will be gratefully acknowledged.


Schedule of Events:

Saturday April 7th – Paul Revere’s Capture
At 2:45 PM, the Lincoln Company of Minute Men will assemble at the Battle Road Visitors Center of the Minute Man National Historical Park. From there, with flags flying and to the tune of colonial fifes and drums, the Lincoln Minute Men and their guests will march down Nelson Road, a section of the original Battle Road, to the Paul Revere Capture Site on Route 2A.

In a lively ceremony beginning at 3 PM, the Minute Men will reenact the capture of Revere and Dawes and the escape of Samuel Prescott and give a brief historical narrative of the events and the heroism of Lincoln residents in carrying the alarm to Concord. All this will be accompanied a musket salute and by colonial music performed using the fifes and drums of the Lincoln Minute Men.


Sunday April 15th - The Lincoln Salute: A Concert of 18th Century Fife & Drum Music
From 2:00 - 3:30 PM in Pierce Park, the Lincoln Minute Men will host the fourth annual concert of 18th century fife and drum music.  In the 18th century, military fifers and drummers played folk tunes from all the cultures of Europe, as well as works by the major composers of the era.  Performers include some of the finest fife & drum units in the US and come from as far away as Michigan.

Sunday April 15th – Alarm & Muster of the Lincoln Minute Men
At 7:00 PM, the Lincoln Company of Minute Men will re-enact a drama that unfolded in the center of colonial Lincoln on the night of April 18, 1775. Captain William Smith will arrive by horse to ring the bell of the White [First Parish] Church--on Bedford Road, across from the library--and spread the alarm that the British Regulars are coming. The Lincoln Minute Men will run from the nearby houses and muster before the White Church to receive their orders for the march to Concord. The event will include a horse rider, historical explanations, colonial music, a musket salute, and lots of Revolutionary commotion.

Monday April 16th – March to Concord
At 6:45 AM, the Lincoln Company of Minute Men will muster at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, in preparation for their march to Concord. They will march first to the cemetery at Bemis Hall for a musket salute to the Patriots buried there. The Minute Men will then march along Sandy Pond Road toward Concord, with colonial music and musket firing along the way. The parade in Concord begins at 9:00 AM, and the events in Concord will include a reenactment of the historic battle at the North Bridge, beginning at about 9:30 AM.
 

Sunday April 22nd – Revolutionary Graves Ceremony
At 2:20 PM, the Lincoln’s Minute Men will assemble at the Pierce House and march to the old town cemetery on Lexington Road. The Minute Men will be accompanied by clergy, guests and a contingent of British Regulars accompanied by a bagpiper.

At 3:00 PM, there will be gravesite ceremonies honoring both the Lincoln patriots of the Revolution and the five British soldiers who were killed in Lincoln on April 19, 1775, and buried there. The ceremonies will include prayer, a commemorative speech, colonial music, and musket salutes.

Following the ceremonies, the Minute Men and their guests will march back to the Pierce House, where refreshments will be served to all, courtesy of the Lincoln Historical Society.