Lest We Forget Speaker Series Celebrates America's 250th Birthday

Revolutionary War reenactments and lectures from university professors kick off this spring in Southwest Michigan.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:00am

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A softly blurred, atmospheric scene of a crowd gathered in a town square, with warm pools of light and color creating an out-of-focus, dreamlike quality that evokes a sense of community, history, and celebration.The Lest We Forget speaker series and Revolutionary War reenactments will bring the community together to commemorate America's 250th birthday with a reverent yet joyful spirit.Kalamazoo Today

Lest We Forget, a Southwest Michigan organization, is hosting a speaker series leading up to this summer's Revolutionary War reenactments to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The series will feature professors from universities across the country discussing topics like the events leading to the Declaration of Independence, the first shots of the war, and the building of the French-American alliance. The series will also include a screening of the film 'The Crossing' starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington.

Why it matters

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this speaker series provides an opportunity for the local community to engage with historians and learn more about the pivotal events and figures of the Revolutionary War era. The reenactments and lectures aim to foster a deeper appreciation for the founding of the nation and the sacrifices made by the original patriots.

The details

The Lest We Forget speaker series will take place over eight weeks, with each Tuesday evening event held at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. Topics will range from the Boston Tea Party and the road to independence, to the battles of Lexington and Trenton, to the building of the French-American alliance. In addition to the lectures, the series will also include a screening of the film 'The Crossing' about George Washington's famous Delaware River crossing.

  • The speaker series will kick off on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • The series will run for eight consecutive Tuesdays, with the final event on May 26, 2026.
  • The Revolutionary War reenactments are scheduled for July 18-19, 2026 at Riverview Park in St. Joseph.

The players

Lest We Forget

A Southwest Michigan organization hosting the speaker series and Revolutionary War reenactments to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

Larry Wozniak

The president of Lest We Forget, who is overseeing the planning and execution of the speaker series and reenactments.

Eric Hinderaker

A professor at the University of Utah who will present on 'Boston and the Road to Independence' as part of the speaker series.

John Hodgson

A local historian who will present on 'Afoot at Lexington: Uncertainty, Memory, and the First Shots of April 19, 1775' as part of the speaker series.

Cherisse Havlicek

A local author who will present on 'The Masters of Massachusetts' as part of the speaker series.

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What they’re saying

“We had a hard time finding any veterans from the Revolutionary War, so we gave up and reached out to universities and colleges around the country and gave them some topics we were interested in talking about and they all responded.”

— Larry Wozniak, President, Lest We Forget

“First of all, we came up with a list of topics we have in date order — how they happened — and then we started looking for speakers to do those topics. We ended up not being able to book them in order because of their availability, so the topics aren't necessarily in date order, but we're going to cover them all.”

— Larry Wozniak, President, Lest We Forget

“Sorry, I'm busy that night. I hope you have a good turnout!”

— Jeff Daniels

What’s next

The Lest We Forget speaker series will continue each Tuesday evening through May 26, 2026, leading up to the Revolutionary War reenactments scheduled for July 18-19, 2026 in St. Joseph, Michigan.

The takeaway

This speaker series provides a valuable opportunity for the local community to engage with historians and deepen their understanding of the pivotal events and figures that shaped the founding of the United States. By commemorating America's 250th birthday through lectures, films, and reenactments, Lest We Forget aims to foster a greater appreciation for the sacrifices and ideals that birthed the nation.