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Home My WebLink About1972-08-10-JSBCC-rpt.pdf - Report of Bicentennial Plans Briefing by Towns of Lexington and Concord to Area Armed Forces A meeting among members of the Bicentennial committees of the Towns of Concord and Lexington and Commanders of the major Armed Forces units in Eastern Massachusetts was held on Thursday August 10 1972 at the Officers' Open Mess Hanscom Field, with Major General Albert R. Shiely Jr , USAF presiding. In attendance were (see attachment #1) The meeting was called to order by General Shiely at 7 45 P M. General Shiely explained that the purpose of the meeting was to permit the Towns to describe the scope of their bicentennial celebrations which are to be focused on 19 April 1975, and to permit the military representatives to identify those areas in which Armed Forces support would be required. He emphasized that these celebrations would be held more than a year before the national festivities, which focus on 4 July 1976 and that an early start on military preparations should be made. He noted especially the possibility of Presidential participation, and a visit by the governors of the thirteen original States and the communications and logistics problems that this would generate General Shiely introduced John Finigan, Chairman of Concord's Bicentennial Committee who gave the group an overview of Concord's bicentennial plans Concord has selected, "The Shot Heard 'Round the World, " as the theme for their activities He stated that, as an independent New England community, Concord could handle problems that relate to its own boundaries, but that the anticipated influx of participants and observers would extend beyond the Concord boundaries and relate to the much wider area community Mr Finigan thanked the military for their fore- sightedness in attempting early planning. He then called on John Damon and Laurence Murray to outline Concord's 19 April 975 parade plans .Ti Mr Damon pointed out that the number of marchers had grown to approximately 14, 000 in past Patriots' Day parades but that the 1975 parade participation would have to be limited to avoid losing the character of the parade, while at the same time expanding the scope of participation in commemoration of the 200th anniversary Concord is hoping to have marching and musical um -s from each of the Service Academies, as well as from each military department. He noted that the attendant problems of housing, feeding and transporting these units were problem areas in which local military commanders could advise and counsel the Towns Kingston L Howard, Lexington Bicentennial Committee Chair- man, was introduced, gave an overview of his Town's planning, and predicted that crowds of 500, 000 to 1, 000, 000 could be expected to be in the Concord-Lexington area for the April 19, 1975 activities Considering the significance of the event and the level of those national and state leaders expected to attend, he believed these estimates were realistic, since over 100, 000 now attend the annual parade He solicited the advice and counsel of local military commanders in approaching the problems of crowd control, communications, first aid, and augmented parking among others He then introduced Raymond E Barnes who serves as the Town Celebrations Committee Chairman, as well as the 1975 parade chairman. Mr Barnes outlined parade routing and participation, indicating that Lexington too would be looking to participation by the official Service Academy and Military Department marching and musical units He asked for advice from the military on what units would be appropriate, reviewing stands planning, weather protection, p public address systems mobile communications, and all the attendant logistics planning which the military communities have experienced in large public events He concluded by suggesting that observers or marching units from non-local military organi- zations, which might participate in 1975, use the 1973 and 1974 parades as dry-runs for 1975 2 ~ j General Shiely then introduced Donald M. Graham, Chairman of the Middlesex Bicentennial Liaison Committee. Mr Graham explained that the liaison committee was formed in February 1972 to coordinate bicentennial plans among all the towns and cities in Middlesex County To date, 14 communities in addition to Lexington and Concord have representation on the group, which is meeting monthly He asked that all groups and organizations exchange minutes and reports, so that all can benefit from the planning and experiences of each other Brigadier General DeWitt C Armstrong, Commanding General, Fort Devens, was introduced, promised Army support, noting that 1975 also marked the 200th anniversary of the U S Army He cautioned against procrastination, and advised the Towns to take early action to provide their shopping lists, and concluded by saying that the U S Army would look forward to using 1973 and 1974 parades as dry-runs for the 1975 celebration. Captain Robert S Lewellen promised Navy support, but cautioned that the City of Boston might also have memorialization ceremonies, and he called for rigid coordination. He said the Navy had already sent instructions to the Field requesting information on area bicentennial plans and the cost in Navy resources desired to support these plans Thus, this meeting tonight would serve as a great assist in responding to Navy instructions Captain Norman Scherer promised top level consideration of requests for support from the Coast Guard Colonel Louis J Ferrari assured the Towns of Mass National Guard support, in at least the same spirit as in the past. General Shiely then recapped the proceedings He flagged several areas for serious consideration, among them were A tendency to underestimate the drawing power of celebrations such as this Parking problems In the event of a Presidential visit, vast communications needs become immediately evident. 3 f Logistics problems Crowd control. Military budget cycles Lead times for invitations to official musical units Service academy units and others General Shiely pointed to the ever-present possibility of military transfers, and suggested immediate appointment of a Joint Service Liaison Committee, which in turn would appoint a work- ing group. There being no objections, General Shiely appointed Colonel Sigurd L. Jensen, Hanscom Field Base Commander, as chair- man of the Liaison Committee. Colonel Jensen would request membership appointments from the other uniformed services and would set up the machinery to coordinate requests for Joint service participation in all area bicentennial celebrations The working group would do the contact work and would administer the directives passed down through the Liaison Committee. There being no further business, General Shiely adjourned the meeting at 9 45 P M. 4 otnf- Serit,ces 2 t rrt AIR FORCE % U` E Major General Albert R. Shiely, Jr /7 Commander, Electronic Systems Division Colonel Sigurd L. Jensen Commander, 3245th Air Base Group -i sr Major Donald G Rhoads Director of Information, 3245th Air Base Group John F Coughlin Information Office 3245th Air Base Group ARMY Brigadier General DeWitt C Armstrong, III Commanding General, Fort Devens Colonel Nicholas L. Rudziak Director of Personnel & Community Events, Fort Devens Major Ardell T Brainerd Information Officer, Fort Devens Lieutenant James F Kealey Aide to General NAVY Captain Robert S Lewellen Assistant Chief of Staff/Operations and Logistics, First Naval District James Conley Chief, Community Relations Public Affairs Office First Naval District COAST GUARD Captain Norman Scherer Chief, Engineering Division, First Coast Guard District Lieutenant (JG) James Brandt Information Officer, First Coast Guard District NATIONAL GUARD Colonel Louis J Ferrari Assistant Adjutant General, Massachusetts Army National Guard Atch #1 VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, REGIONAL OFFICE John Soraghan Member Boston Federal Executive Board Bicentennial Committee OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE INFORMATION OFFICE (SAF'OI) James R. Newton Bicentennial Project Officer CONCORD John Finigan Chairman, Bicentennial Committee John Damon Chairman, Bicentennial Parade Committee Ralph T Haskill Ralph A. Macone Laurence A. Murray Ralph T Ambrose Francis X. Brady Jason Korell Michele G Lombardo Otis T Whitney LEXINGTON Kingston L. Howard Chairman, Bicentennial Committee Raymond E Barnes Chairman, Bicentennial Parade Committee Donald M. Graham Chairman, Middlesex Bicentennial Liaison Committee Lincoln P Cole, Jr Roland B Greeley