PATRIOTS’ DAY

Today is a very special day in our nations history.  April 19, 1775 was set apart as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumball. He proclaimed that:  “God would graciously pour out His Holy Spirit on us to bring us to a thorough repentance and effectual reformation that our iniquities may not be our ruin; that He would restore, preserve and secure the liberties of this and all the other British American colonies, and make the land a mountain of Holiness, and habitation of righteousness forever.”

It was on that very day as the sun rose, April 19, 1775, that 800 British regulars approached Lexington’s town green. To their surprise, they were met by Lexington’s militia, comprised of 77 men who were mostly members of the Church of Christ, pastored by Rev. Jonas Clark, whose wife was a cousin of John Hancock. Patriot captain John Parker told the militia: “Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have War, let it begin here!” It is disputed who fired first, but the British opened fire and killed or wounded eighteen of Captain Parker’s men.

The American militia retreated, growing to number 400, and took a stand at Concord’s Old North Bridge.

The British had come that day to take all the guns and ammunition that the colonist had stored up. George Mason of Virginia stated: “To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them. “The Revolutionary War began with an attempt by government officials to seize citizens’ guns. Patriots had prepared for this with the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, October 26, 1774, organizing their defenses with one-third of their regiments being “Minutemen,” men who were ready to fight at a minute.

To understand more about this day and our nation, please read Americanminute.com with William J. Federer.  Excepts from today post were taken from that site.