I somehow let April 19th go by without noting the 'Shot Heard 'Round the World', and the battle at Lexington and Concord.
Today, the 20th of April, is observed as Patriots' Day in Massachusetts. If I were in that part of the country, I would love to be there for the events.
You can read Jonas Clarke's contemporary account of the battle of Lexington here. There is a list of the 'provincials killed, wounded, or missing' following the article; several of my kinsmen are listed there -- the Parkers, as well as Prescott and Putnam. This is one reason why a knowledge of genealogy is such a wonderful thing: knowing your family tree, you can know how and where your ancestors were involved in these events of the past. Knowing that makes it much more personal and alive.
There are many of you out there, no doubt, who also had colonial ancestors; this is a time to honor and remember them.
Regardless of whether or not I had ancestors who were there, this is part of my larger 'family story just as it is yours, too, if you are an American, and part of the larger family that is America. This is our story, belonging to all Americans who are either of the American family by blood or by adoption. This is why I write about these things each year when the commemorations roll around. It's well to remember these things and keep them alive, to be inspired by them, to remember our ancestors' sacrifices.
