Photo: Courtesy of the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
LEXINGTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Friday marked 249 years since the "Shot Heard 'Round the World," but the Town of Lexington is already focused on next year.
April 19, 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which ignited the American Revolutionary War. The Semiquincentennial Commission, or Lex250, is building up to the major milestone with a year's worth of events aimed at celebrating and educating.
Lex250 kicked off the proceedings Friday with the unveiling of a countdown calendar, a monument on the front steps of the Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building in downtown Lexington that is counting down the days to next year's anniversary.
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"It’s such an exceptional moment for the town to have this much energy," said Suzie Barry, Lex250 Chair. "We’re so excited to welcome everyone from around the corner to around the world to come and celebrate with us."
1 of 3 Photo: Courtesy of the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
2 of 3 Photo: Courtesy of the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
3 of 3 Photo: Courtesy of the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
Barry was joined at the unveiling by state and local dignitaries, emissaries from the United Kingdom and France, the Lexington Minute Men, and the William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps.
"Certainly Lexington truly is the birthplace of American liberty," Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said. "To be able to celebrate that as we ring in the nation’s 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, that was born right here in Massachusetts, we want to commemorate it, we want to celebrate it, we need to remember it and tell these stories."
"We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of some of the stories that need to be told, and some of the people that need to be celebrated, so for all of us, this is an important year," said State Senator Mike Barrett.
WBZ's Kendall Buhl reports.
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