Beyond 1775: Concord and the Massachusetts National Guard

Special pre-Veteran’s Day tour, Nov. 9, 2023, 10 a.m. – a chance to be taken into the special collection of the Concord Armory to see rare artifacts and how materials are preserved.

Be one of the first to explore Concord’s 1915 armory and learn about the near 400-year history of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, the oldest component of the United States Armed Forces. Hear stories of remarkable service and view the objects that witnessed war. The tour will also offer participants a special glimpse into the Massachusetts National Guard Museum while it prepares to open to the public. Concord may be famous for April 19, 1775, but its service to the Commonwealth and Nation continue to this very day.

Tour meets at 91 Everett Street Concord

This tour is provided in partnership with the Massachusetts National Guard Museum.

Endorsed by Concord 250 Committee

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Concord and the Vietnam War

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2023

2:00—4:00 PM

Goodwin Forum, Main Library, 129 Main Street, Concord, MA, 01742

Concord and the Vietnam War: Vietnam Veterans Recount the Protest They Staged at the Old North Bridge in 1971 and How it Led to One of the Largest Mass Arrests in Massachusetts History

On the opening night of Memorial Day Weekend in 1971, men wearing fatigues began to gather at the Old North Bridge in Concord to protest the ongoing war which they had just returned home from fighting. Their plan was to camp overnight and then march all the way to Boston Common. Photographs of them crossing the bridge were splashed across the region’s newspapers. For the liberal press, these were the new Minute Men.

On a panel moderated by Elise Lemire, author of Black Walden and Battle Green, Vietnam, three Massachusetts Vietnam veterans recall why they chose to stage their protests against the Vietnam War at New England’s most storied battlefields, their decision on the second day of the march to emulate Thoreau by occupying the Lexington Battle Green without permission, and their reception in Concord when they were tried in Middlesex Court for civil disobedience. This panel with Vietnam veterans Bestor Cram, Christopher Gregory, and Lenny Rotman, will explore the role of memorialized battlefields, the principles of civil disobedience, and the role protest can play in healing moral injuries.

Ellen Garrison Day – Friday, April 14, 2023

The Concord Select Board declared April 14, 2023, “Ellen Garrison Day” to honor the contributions of Concord resident Ellen Garrison. Ellen was born on April 14, 1823 in Concord, the granddaughter of Patriot of Color, Ceasar Robbins. Ellen lived a life dedicated to the struggle for civil rights until her passing in an anti-slavery community in Pasadena, California, where she is buried alongside other anti-slavery activists.

Learn about Ellen and her life of activism by clicking on the proclamation and join to community for a celebration in her honor on Friday, April 14, 2023.

“Stand up for Ellen” Friday, April 14, 2023 at 6 p.m.

12 Monument Square, Concord, MA, followed by a reception at the Town House, 22 Monument Square. If you can’t be there in person, the event will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/vlSBkbSZ-7c?feature=share

Music
Living History
Arts and performance
Dedication, celebration, and cake
Free, open and suitable to all ages!

This is the FIRST Official Event of the Concord 250 Celebration!

For the first time in 200 years, on April 14, 2023, Concord will publicly honor and celebrate the birth of one of its most inspirational daughters, Ellen Garrison and showcase the 1841 visit of Frederick Douglass to Concord!

Presented by Robbins House and is the first event of Concord 250 celebration. Free and suitable for all ages. Located at Holy Family Church and Concord Town House.

Thanks to the kind offer of collaboration and support of people all over Concord, this event will create an opportunity for a celebration of the legacy and importance of the African American story as central the story of the town. This event allows for public visibility and exposure to help more members of the community learn about and honor a history that may be new to them, but is essential for them and their understanding of Concord’s role in securing freedom for all people.

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