ST. GEORGE — A pivotal conflict in American history began 249 years ago on April 19 when the first shots of what became a war for independence from the British Empire were fired. Now referred to as Patriots’ Day, the day was recently recognized through proclamations on the state and county levels.
Utah Chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution met with Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson on April 9 for a reading and signing of Utah’s Patriots’ Day declaration. A similar declaration was read before the Washington County Commission on Tuesday by members of the Red Cliffs of Zion chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
According to a press release, six other states – Massachusetts, Maine, Wisconsin, Florida, Connecticut and North Dakota – recognize the first day of the American Revolution and the “Shot Heard Around the World” as a special day of “honoring and remembering the courage, faith and sacrifice of those that bravely stood up on April 19, 1775, to confront the greatest military power on earth at that time, to defend their freedom of speech and property.”
Specifically, Patriots’ Day marks the day the battles of Lexington and Concord took place between local militia – known as minutemen – and British soldiers. The battles sparked a rebellion that turned into an eight-year-long war that created a new, independent nation.
“We are hoping to help people understand the reason our nation was founded,” said Mark Woodbury, the color guard commander for the Red Cliffs of Zion Sons of the American Revolution.
He was a part of a handful of men attending Tuesday’s commission meeting who were dressed in tricorn hats and blue overcoats resembling Revolutionary War soldiers.
With the men was a young girl named Taylor who was also dressed in revolution-era attire. She was there representing the school as its mascot – “the patriots” – while also highlighting a mission of the Sons and Daughters of the Revolution, which is to teach younger generations about the revolution and the founding principles of the country.
“What’s important about the work we do is trying to help younger people understand what went on in history and why our patriots decided they had had enough of tyranny from the (English) king,” Steven Sorensoen, vice president of the Red Cliffs of Zion chapter, said. “Basically the colonists decided, ‘We had enough and it’s time for us to stand up for our rights,’ and they did.”
Also present for the county’s Patriots’ Day proclamation were representatives of the Daughters and Children of the American Revolution.
During the meeting, County Commissioner Victor Iverson said he recalled seeing a reenactment of events surrounding Lexington and Concord being performed by children, which made him reflect on the people involved in the actual event.
“It really did make me think a lot about what must have been going through all of their minds when they stood their ground there,” he said. “May we live worthy of that sacrifice they gave.”
The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution are lineage-based nonprofit groups composed of individuals who can trace their ancestry back to a person involved in the American Revolution. The goals of both organizations are to spread education and patriotism concerning the founding of the country, the principles behind it and their relevance today. They are also involved in various other activities in their communities related to volunteering and caring for veterans.
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