Hi everyone, Tara Healey here.
I wanted to write a quick note for July 4th.
The Revolution began in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The morning after Paul Revere’s midnight ride, British forces engaged several hundred militiamen before retreating back to Boston Harbor and preparing for a further invasion, expecting little resistance.
They were wrong.
As word spread, militias from throughout Massachusetts came quickly to Boston’s aid. By the next morning, more than 15,000 patriots surrounded Boston.
Over the next several days, help arrived from other states, and the American force grew. Under the command of George Washington, they formed the First Continental Army, ultimately pushing the British into retreat.
Later, when the Declaration of Independence laid out the colonies’ vision for a democratic, independent America, it was made possible in part by the bravery of the people of Massachusetts. Without hesitation, they were willing to march in support their neighbors, and stand up for the promise of a better future.
Together, they made history.
That’s the Massachusetts we know and celebrate. Happy Independence Day.
-Tara Healey