A concurrent resolution expressing support for the celebration of Patriot's Day and honoring the Nation's first patriots.

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 37 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

1st Session
S. CON. RES. 37

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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas on the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was sent for by Dr. Joseph
Warren and instructed to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts, to warn
Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching to
arrest them;
Whereas after leaving Charlestown on his way to Lexington, Paul Revere alerted
the inhabitants of villages and towns along his route, stopping in
Medford (formerly Mystic) at the home of Isaac Hall, the captain of the
Medford Minutemen during the Revolutionary War, before continuing on
through Arlington (formerly Menotomy) and arriving in Lexington around
midnight;
Whereas William Dawes and a third rider, Dr. Samuel Prescott joined Paul Revere
on his mission and they proceeded together on horseback to Lincoln;
Whereas while en route they encountered a British patrol that arrested Paul
Revere, but William Dawes and Samuel Prescott managed to escape and
continued on to Concord where weapons and supplies were hidden;
Whereas the midnight ride of Paul Revere was brilliantly and forever
commemorated by the great American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in
his 1861 poem ``Paul Revere's Ride'';
Whereas the actions taken by Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott
afforded the Minutemen time to assemble to confront the advancing
British troops and were heralded as one of the first great acts of
patriotism of our Nation;
Whereas 38 Lexington Minutemen boldly stood before 600-800 British troops who
had gathered at Lexington Green;
Whereas Captain Parker of the Lexington Minutemen commanded his men, ``Don't
fire unless you are fired on; but if they want a war, let it begin
here.'';
Whereas when the British continued onto Concord, a battle ensued at the Old
North Bridge, where Minutemen from every Middlesex village and town
routed the British and forced them into retreat back to Boston;
Whereas Ralph Waldo Emerson immortalized this moment in American history as
where ``the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard 'round the
world.'';
Whereas the United States has recognized the historic significance of the
Nation's original patriots with the creation in 1959 of the Minute Man
National Historical Park, located in Concord, Lincoln, and Lexington,
Massachusetts, to preserve and protect the numerous significant historic
sites, structures, properties, and landscapes associated with the
opening battles of the American Revolution, and to help visitors
understand and interpret the colonial struggle for their rights and
freedoms;
Whereas the heroic acts of April 19, 1775, are celebrated in Massachusetts and
Maine every year as part of Patriot's Day with a reenactment of Paul
Revere's famous ride, battle reenactments, educational programs,
parades, and civic activities, and remembered by Americans across the
United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That Congress--
(1) expresses support for the annual celebration of
Patriot's Day on April 19;
(2) recognizes the extraordinary dedication to freedom
demonstrated by the Nation's first patriots during the earliest
days of the Battle for Independence in April 1775; and
(3) honors those first patriots who lost their lives in
defense of liberty and freedom.

Passed the Senate April 11, 2003.

Attest:

Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. CON. RES. 37

_______________________________________________________________________

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the celebration of Patriot's Day on April 19th
and honoring the Nation's first patriots.