Thousands gathered in Massachusetts to watch a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the famous “shot heard around the world,” which started the Revolutionary War 250 years ago. The current day Lexington Minute Men (LMM), a company of reenactment volunteers including West Point Graduates COL (R) Ralph Gerenz, USAFR ’60, Steve Delity ’85, and 2LT Michael Manetti ’23, led the reenactment.

The celebration began with the LMM reenacting Paul Revere and William Dawes arriving in Lexington to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock to evacuate, late on April 18. At dawn the next day, now known as Patriots’ Day, LMM led the reenactment of the Battle of Lexington in front of thousands of spectators, and was broadcast live on NBC’s Today Show. 

The LMM members all chose one of the men in the company of 77 Lexington Militia to embody as they portrayed the events of that historic day. The Lexington Militia stood their ground in the face of over 800 British Regulars that were on the march from Boston through Lexington on their way to Concord to confiscate weapons and gunpowder. That early morning confrontation resulted in eight Lexington Militia men killed and another 10 wounded. Later that day, the British were repelled by militia from several towns at the North Bridge in Concord. The militia harassed the British on their retreat, back from Concord, through Lexington, on their route back to Boston. 

The LMM culminated the 250th Anniversary celebration by participating in what is now labeled “Parker’s Revenge.” After the carnage earlier that morning on the Lexington Town Green, the Lexington Militia’s leader, Captain John Parker, led the company out to ambush the British along their retreat. This event was held in the Minute Man National Historical Park, which has preserved the “Battle Road” between Concord and Lexington.

“It was a profound honor for three West Point graduates—spanning 64 years of classes—to stand together at the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington,” Delity said. “Though generations apart, we were united in our purpose: to honor the brave, everyday citizens of 1775 who stood against tyranny. Their courage and sacrifice ultimately gave rise to liberty and the birth of the United States of America.”

(Photo courtesy of the Associated Press)