Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — One of the more memorable floats during Sunday's St. Patrick's Day/Evacuation Day parade was two oxen pulling a cannon.
The story behind the story: the steer-pulling float was paying homage to Evacuation Day when British troops were evacuated from Boston on March 17, 1776.
Hanscom Credit Union sponsored the float. It hired the team of oxen, 'Oak' and 'Birch,' to pull the cannon to commemorate Col. Henry Knox who transported 62 tons of artillery in just 56 days over 300 miles from Ft. Ticonderoga N.Y. to the Continental Army just outside Boston.
With the artillery in place, General George Washington's troops were able to force the evacuation of British troops.
One of the oxen's handlers at the parade was 15-year-old Owen Lorenzo who said working with the animals was a lot of fun. "Birch is a great puller," he said. "If you need something moved, he will do it."
And both of the animals are very strong, able to pull a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
WBZ's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok