DESIGNATING APRIL 19TH, 2025, AS A DAY OF HONOR FOR THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Spiegelman

Reps. Collins, Dukes, Romer, Ross Levin

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 11

DESIGNATING APRIL 19TH, 2025, AS A DAY OF HONOR FOR THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.

WHEREAS, on April 19, 1775, the Massachusetts colonists, in open rebellion against the British Crown, marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War with the “Shot Heard Round the World”; and

WHEREAS, on the night before the battle, Patriot spies were made aware of the British plan to ride into Concord and seize the weapons and war supplies being hidden there; and

WHEREAS, Paul Revere and other riders, rode into Concord and raised the alarm about the British plan, alerted by spies within Boston who were instructed to light lamps, “One if by land, two if by sea”, to alert the patriots of British movement; and

WHEREAS, on the morning of the 19

th

at 5 am, British forces marched into Lexington and were met with a militia company of more than 70 men led by Captain John Parker. It is unknown to history who fired the first shot, but the Patriot militia retreated with eight killed; and

WHEREAS, the British forces then marched into Concord with 220 men, destroying the Patriot stores and supplies; and

WHEREAS, the patriot militia and Minute Men gathered a force of over 400 men to oppose the British forces with fighting beginning in and around the houses in Concord; and

WHEREAS, as word got out to the surrounding areas and the Patriot forces began to grow up to almost 4,000, the British were forced to retreat back to Boston. The American forces harassed and ambushed the Redcoats the entire 12 mile trip, inflicting almost 300 killed, wounded, or missing; and

WHEREAS, the militia from multiple states surrounded and laid siege to Boston, pinning in the British forces; and

WHEREAS, this battle demonstrated the colonists’ resolve to withstand British authority and sparked the fight for American independence; and

WHEREAS, April 19, 2025, marks the semiquincentennial anniversary of the battle, demonstrating centuries of American spirit.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, that the assembly

designates April 19

th

, 2025, as a Day of Honor for the semiquincentennial anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution designates April 19th, 2025, as a Day of Honor for the semiquincentennial anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord.