The Mayflower Commentary

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

"The regulars are coming!"

This past Friday, as a kick-off to Lexington and Concord's annual celebration of Patriot's Day, Minute Man National Historical Park sponsored a re-enactment that dramatized the moments surrounding the capture of Paul Revere by British soldiers, or "regulars". This included a half-hour vignette based on two letters Revere wrote about his ride. The weather was clear and the moon not quite full, much as it was that night of April 19th, 1775.

Revere left Boston by boat at 10:00pm on April 18th and reached the Charlestown shore where he waited for the custodian of the Old North Church to give him the signal. Soon two lights shone in the steeple and Revere rode off on the horse the Colonialists had waiting for him, as he shouted word that "the Regulars are coming". Another rider, William Dawes, had taken the land route south around Boston and the two met on the Bay Road, now known as Battle Road.

Dawes and Revere rode to Lexington where they alerted Hancock and Adams about British movements. While there they ran into Dr. Samuel Prescott who was on his way home after having spent the evening visiting his fiancee. The result of their conversation was that Prescott agreed to join Dawes and Revere on their mission.

Along the Battle Road in Lincoln they were abruptly halted by British soldiers who were out patrolling. While Paul Revere engaged his British captors, Dawes saw an opportunity and made a daring escape on horseback, only to fall off his horse later, preventing him from continuing. Prescott, pulling away before the British had even had a chance to actually capture him, vaulted over the stone wall and galloped away along the route through the woods back to Lexington which he knew because he lived there. Prescott went to ask for help from his brother, who then joined him on the night ride.

Dr. Prescott and his brother would be the only ones to make it to Concord. The British held Paul Revere for about two hours, then released him but kept his horse. Revere walked to Lexington where he arrived before dawn.

I was very impressed by Paul Revere's bravery as well as that of Dawes and Prescott. At the outset of the capture, one of the Redcoats yelled, "Stop or I'll blow your brains out!" In spite of this treatment and even after the British became aware of who they had captured, a Son of Liberty no less, Revere remained confident, even defiant and did not waiver in the least. This re-enactment was based on Revere's representation of the events of April 19th, 1775, and although he may have expected his account would become historical evidence, one thing besides the night air was clear. Paul Revere, along with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, were true American patriots.

Information was taken from signage at the Paul Revere Capture Site on the Battle Road in Minute Man Historical Park, from the video presentation at the Lincoln Visitors Center, 250 North Great Road and from the re-enactment of Paul Revere's Capture, performed Friday, April 15, 2011 at the Bloody Angle in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

For more information about Minute Man Historical Park visit their website at
http://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm

Monday, April 19, 2010

April 19, 1775

Around 2:00am along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775, Paul Revere was detained by British soldiers. William Dawes, another night rider, witnessed the capture from a safe distance and was therefore able to skirt the Redcoat hazard and continue with his mission, which was the same as Revere's. The British held Revere for awhile and then released him, however they kept his horse. Adding a twist of irony to the story, Paul Revere had borrowed that horse for the occasion.

Credit for this information goes to signage at the Paul Revere Capture Site and a volunteer working at the Hartwell Tavern in Lincoln, Massachusetts at a demonstration at the Bloody Angle in 2007.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

"Pressure makes diamonds."

During a telephone call with an employee from MassGOP this morning, I learned a new phrase, pertinent to the political environment enveloping Massachusetts and the people involved in those campaigns. When asked to whom the quotation is attributed, the gentleman at the Boston office suggested that perhaps a life insurance salesman back in the 1950's might have come up with it as a way of dealing with the stress of his job. Just before we said good-bye he added, "Women really like it".

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

On Tuesday, February 23, surrounded by family, friends and supporters, Lewis Evangelidis formally declared his candidacy for Sheriff of Worcester County. Showing he cares about the communities within the district, Mr. Evangelidis traveled north, south, east and west to make his announcement.

Read Representative Evangelidis' press release, along with accounts of the day in the Telegram & Gazette and the Milford Daily News.

EVANGELIDIS ANNOUNCES RUN FOR SHERIFF

Worcester - State Representative Lew Evangelidis (1st Worcester District) held a press conference outside his childhood home, a triple-decker located at 52 Tower Street in Worcester this afternoon to announce his campaign for Worcester County Sheriff. Evangelidis was joined by former Colonel of the State Police, Reed Hillman, who was on hand to make Lew's introduction.

Evangelidis is a former assistant district attorney, assistant state attorney and spent more than a dozen years working in the private sector before being elected to the House of Represnetatives in 2002. Evangelidis said, 'I am committed to being a professional, independent and innovative Sheriff who will keep the families in Worcester County safe. I believe that the job of Sheriff does not end at the four walls of the jail but extends to the four corners of Worcester County.' Evangelidis, who has the smallest staff of any office on Beacon Hill added, 'I'm not part of the old Worcester County political machine and I have not made nor will I make any job promises during our campaign. I will not accept campaign contributions from employees of the jail and the only criteria to be considered for a job promotion will be merit. Nothing else.'

Evangelidis has laid out a strong vision for the future of the Worcester County Sheriff's Department with several innovative initiatives aimed at reducing the instance of repeat offenders by returning productive and responsible former inmates back to our neighborhoods. Evangelidis believes that by cleaning up our neighborhoods we can bring increased business investment and job growth into Worcester County. Evangelidis pledged to develop crime, drug and cyber bullying prevention programs to be implemented in every school throughout the County. He has also pledged to crack down on disability and pension abuse at the jail.

When asked about the skyrocketing cost of incarceration Evangelidis said he will maximize any opportunity to save the taxpayers money, including swiftly deporting criminals who are in our country illegally rather than housing them at over $32,000 per year.

In the Legislature Evangelidis led the battle to toughen drunk driving laws with the passage of Melanie's Law. Melanie's grandfather, Ron Bersani said, 'I was fortunate to have Lew Evangelidis on my side in the fight for Melanie's Law. His passionate support during the contentious House debate was crucial in thwarting efforts to gut the bill.'

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Evangelidis led the battle on Beacon Hill to increase the public's access to sex offender information, pass Jessica's Law to increase penalties for crimes against children, as well as efforts to repeal the Commonwealth's outdated insanity defense laws.

Reed Hillman, former Colonel of the State Police, added the following, 'I have worked with Lew Evangelidis for several years and I support his candidacy for Sheriff. He will bring an extraordinary level of professionalism and independence to the position of Sheriff of Worcester County.'

Visit Lew's website at
http://www.lewforsheriff.org/

Horn, Danielle M. "Evangelidis Makes Sheriff Bid Official." Telegram & Gazette 24 February 2010: B3.
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100224/NEWS/2240401

McHugh-Power, Shannon. "Evangelidis To Run For Sheriff." Milford Daily News 24 February 2010
http://www.milforddailynews.com/highlight/x739958619/Evangelidis-to-run-for-sheriff

Thursday, February 4, 2010

A Groundhog Day Event in Littleton

On Tuesday, February 2, in Scott Brown's shadow, Mike Hruby and his support group once again put on a marvelous nuts 'n bolts session, offering speeches from a host of good, common sense candidates, as well as advice on raising campaign funds.

Marty Lamb, contender for U.S. Congress, explains his Third Congressional Distrct spans from North Fall River to Princeton and out to Holliston, his home town. Marty pointed out that 59% of the voters in his district went for Scott Brown.

Mindelynn Young, Finance Director for Mary Connaughton, used a small business analogy to describe some general ideas in approaching donors, who she termed "investors".

"Build relationships, tell them what you're going to spend the money on, create a sense of urgency and follow up," advises Mindelynn.

"An auditor running for auditor. Go figure," says Mary Connaughton.

Mary Connaughton, former board member of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, presented solid, practical reasons why she, a Republican, should hold the office of State Auditor.

Mike Hruby introduces Mary Connaughton, featured speaker of the evening.

Jim Gettens of Sterling details his military background. Jim is running for State Representative in the 12th Worcester District.

Two other candidates vying for State Representative in their respective locales also spoke but are not pictured. Paul Avello of the Second Middlesex District and Kurt Hayes of the 37th Middlesex District.