Remembering Lexington and Concord on Patriots' Day

The first battle of the American Revolution is commemorated each April 19th in Massachusetts and Maine.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:40pm

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A close-up view of an antique musket and powder horn resting on a weathered wooden table, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation and historical significance.The humble tools of the American patriots who stood their ground and fired the 'shot heard 'round the world' on that fateful April morning in 1775.Boston Today

On April 19, 1775, the first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. This annual Patriots' Day holiday marks the day when American colonists took up arms against the British, initiating the fight for independence. The author recounts taking his young son to witness the Lexington Green re-enactment, describing the sights and sounds of that fateful morning when the 'first Americans to take up arms for their freedom' faced off against the British troops.

Why it matters

Patriots' Day is a significant commemoration of the start of the American Revolution, when colonists bravely stood up to the British and fought for their independence. The holiday is a chance to reflect on the sacrifices made at Lexington and Concord, which set the stage for the long struggle that would ultimately lead to the establishment of the United States.

The details

On April 19, 1775, British troops marched from Boston to Concord to seize a cache of American guns and munitions. This prompted local militia to gather at Lexington Green, where a confrontation erupted between the colonists and the British soldiers. Accounts differ on who fired the first shot, but the clash resulted in the deaths of several American colonists. The British troops then continued on to Concord, leaving the American dead and wounded behind on Lexington Green. This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.

  • On April 19, 1775, the first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired at Lexington and Concord.
  • Patriots' Day is celebrated each year on April 19th in Massachusetts and Maine.

The players

Capt. Parker

The commander of the colonial militia at Lexington Green, who reportedly ordered his men to 'Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.'

Maj. John Pitcairn

A Royal Marines officer who led the British troops to Lexington and Concord, and who did not want the troops to fire without orders, but was unable to prevent the initial clash.

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What they’re saying

“Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”

— Capt. Parker, Commander of the colonial militia at Lexington Green

What’s next

Patriots' Day is an annual commemoration, with re-enactments and events held each April 19th in Massachusetts and Maine to remember the first battle of the American Revolution.

The takeaway

The events at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 marked the start of the American Revolution, when colonists took up arms against the British and fought for their independence. Patriots' Day is an important annual observance that allows us to reflect on the sacrifices made by those early American patriots and the long struggle that led to the establishment of the United States.