1975-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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"Town Swells with Pride — 75,000 Enjoy a Glorious Weekend" thus read the headline of the Lexington Minute -man. It was indeed a glorious weekend and a glorious bicentennial celebration - a celebration made possible by the enthusiasm, cooperation and responsiveness of Lexington's townspeople. Bicentennial I (The Weekend of April 19) Events began Thursday evening, April 17, with a bicentennial revolutionary ball and a concert by Masterworks Chorale, proceeded Friday evening with a concert by the Armed Forces Bicentennial Band. Throughout both days, when it became a certainity that President Ford would stop in Lexington on April 19, excitement was everywhere. The town was spotless in anticipation of the weekend. The sale of the Lexington- Concord commemorative stamp went equally well. Saturday morning, a gentle rain may have kept one or two from attend- ing the 6:00 A.M. re- enactment but that was all, for 25,000 to 30,000 townspeople and visitors alike gathered around the Common, craning their necks to get a glimpse of how it must have seemed, some 200 years earlier. Pledges, proclamations, and pageantry marked the annual ceremonies on the Green following the youth parade. From the invocation to a spirited rendition of the national anthem by the high school band, the event was filled with youthful idealism and forward looking patriotism. Later that morning, town officials and a crowd of 35,000 gathered to welcome President Ford and other visiting dignataries to Lexington. Both during the President's visit and the 2:00 P.M. parade spectators were orderly; everyone was polite and responsive. Patriots' Day was climaxed by a post parade reception at Heritage Hall, sponsored by the chamber of commerce for invited guests. April 20 dawned sunny but chilled by a brisk wind. Following commemorative church services, some 2,500 persons assembled on the Green to re- dedicate our Common and ourselves to the common cause of American Liberty. Lexington and the nation received one of its most impressive birthday presents with the dedication and official opening of the Museum of Our National Heritage. A second dedication ceremony was held at the Sanderson House, now the museum of the Lexington Minute Men. Also during the day, older and younger members of the Girl Scout Drum and Bugle Corps, each presented lively musical demonstrations. Hundreds of townspeople, already filled with excitement, had their bicentennial enthusiasm raised to an even higher pitch while attending the second Masterworks Chorale concert or the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, band exchange concert at the high school. Bicentennial II Approximately 100 events, primarily in various categories of exhibits, talks, and lectures; musical events plus a variety of miscella- neous activities took place from May through December. For planning purpose this period was designated as Bicentennial II. 14