HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-02-23-LBC-min.pdf I
LEXINGTON BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Minutes - February 23, 1972
King Howard called the meeting to order at 7 40 P M. Other members present
were Roland Greeley, Raymond Barnes, Warren Butters, Doris Pullen, Lincoln Cole,
and Bob Reynolds of the Permanent Memorial and Site Committee Dick Michelson
arrived later in the evening.
The agenda included reports on
1. the February 17th meeting
2 King Howard's meeting with Bob Cataldo
3. Permanent Memorial and Site Committee
4 Celebrations Committee about 1972
5 financial projections
6 schedule of 1975 events
The secretary's summary of the February 17th joint meeting was distributed along
with the resolution passed at that meeting The summary was corrected to read
"sponsored by the Bicentennial Committees of the towns of Lexington and Concord"
in paragraph 1. King reported that he had discussed the results of the meeting
with Bob Cataldo, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Mr Cataldo agreed to
issue the invitations for the proposed meeting of the regional committee He
asked that LBC recommend a person for the regional meeting. The date decided
upon will be April 6, 1972. LBC decided that such an appointee should also be
a member of LBC. Discussion followed as to whom to select The Committee took
note that Burlington has already appointed Ray McLaren to the regional committee
Lou Zehner joined the meeting at this time He reported that the theme of
reconciliation is abstract, yet the idea lifts aspirations Two of his thoughts
were as follows a) For 200 years we've talked "Let it Begin Here" which is a
chip-on-the-shoulder phrase. Could we perhaps have a boulder on which prose of
reconciliation, peace, brotherhood and such were inscribed? Prose like the
Gettysburg address on a boulder facing the other? b) If the theme be reconcilia-
tion why not the Queen or royal family or British Ambassador, the premiere of
Canada joining in the unveiling cermony? Mr Zehner would like a committee of
leading American writers like Samuel Eliot Morison, Reston, and E B White judging
entries from all universities, religious denominations etc which submit the
prose Why not a hymn to Lexington or a poem to be set to a well known music to
celebrate through theological circles, all faiths would preach reconciliation and
all choirs would sing the hymn? He likes the idea of looking ahead--for the next
200 years--having a theme, a statement, and a hymn that lifts our aspirations
Another suggestion was to have the Lexington and Concord Minutemen be honor guard
for the British and Canadians
(-
Page 2--Minutes, February 23, 1972
Bob Reynolds then gave his report from the sub-committee Since the last
report they have visited the North Andover Textile Museum but postponed additional
museum visits until they met again as a committee Robert Marrigan is the repre-
sentative from the Lexington Minutemen on the Site Committee Mary Lou Burri is
the secretary of the committee They have requested in writing, a loan agreement
for artifacts from the Lexington Historical Society and the Minutemen. The Minute-
men have approximately 150 original muskets and parts of uniforms and military
equipment. The Permanent Memorial and Site Committee has received information from
museum architects Johnson Hotvedt and Associates and will be discussing more infor-
mation with them and other concerns There followed a review of the immediate
efforts necessary in the proposal to the Town Meeting The sub-committee should
emphasize the mission to find a living, operating, memorial to be located in the
area of the Common and the necessity of study money for site and structure.
It was brought to the attention of the LBC that Screen Gems had approached
the Historical Society and the Chamber of Commerce about wanting to use Lexington
in the setting of the 1973 Chevrolet commercials These would be filmed in the
summer of 1972.
The establishment of a foundation for a permanent memorial such as Concord
has done was discussed. Also the need for professionally staffed central head-
quarters day by day over the 1975-76 seasons
Attention was then given to the agenda for the April 18-21 1975 weekend.
A general picture of the events is as follows
Friday evening - special balls
dinners, receptions
VIP—expenses--r-es-t self liquidating
Saturday
Saturday A.M. - dawn reenactment
Saturday P M. - parade - Centennial Legion
VIPs here for parade
receptions, dinners (private)
Sunday A. M. - church events
Sunday P M. - dedication, speeches
Monday A. M. - youth parade
Monday P M. - sporting events
Other probable events of 1975
1. our usual ones keyed to the Bicentennial such as
Cary lectures, Masterworks Chorale
Page 3 -Minutes, February 23, 1972
2. special programs such as Boston Pops
Roland emphasized the need to define "why are such events"--are they keyed to
tourists or for Lexington residents It was felt they should be about Lexington
but explain the community to the visitor Ray Barnes said the Minutemen were
planning regular musters on the Green during the warm months
3 special days over the years 1975-1976
We hope to have a sound and light show, musical programs, a drama, musters etc
Our job will now be to develop a general outline based on what we have heard
from the community and explain it to the community
Meeting adjourned at 10 40 p m.
Respectfully submitted,
Doris Pullen, Secretary pro tem