OPINION — Fellow citizens of this great state of Utah:
We have just celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Destruction of Tea that occurred in Boston on Dec. 16, 1773, now known as the Boston Tea Party. This is only one of many events involving the colonists that progressed toward the American Revolution.
One of those events occurred on April 19, 1775. After the Boston Massacre, after the Tea Party, after the Coercive Act from Parliament and after the first Continental Congress met and issued a declaration of rights of life, liberty, property and trial by jury, April 19 came to be known as the day of the “Shot Heard Around the World.”
This was the day that the colonists in Massachusetts, knowing the greatest military in the world was coming for their patriot leaders, their guns and powder, took a formal stand against tyranny. Seventy-seven patriots armed themselves and faced this army of 700 across a green in Concord.
“Throw down your arms! Ye villains, ye rebels,” cried the British major. Their response was, as stated by Capt. John Parker of the Lexington Training Band, “Stand your ground, do not fire unless fired upon … If they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
What did those farmers, mechanics and blacksmiths do? They stood their ground.
No one knows who or where the first “Shot Heard Around the World” came from, but the British responded with a volley of shots that killed eight militiamen.
This is the point in time that could not be reversed, and the colonists came together for the cause of freedom. This was only the beginning of the many battles and lives lost so we could become free.
There is not one day that the citizens of Washington County in the great state of Utah do not reap the blessings of those who lost their lives on that day, April 19, 1775.
We must not become complacent as citizens of a country that has raised the flag of liberty for all people around the world to lift their eyes to — an idea that people can and should govern themselves. A hope against tyranny and slavery to a government, even a king.
Let us not be ungrateful in our recognition of those who stood their ground for their freedom. There they stood, and we must also recognize that moment, not just one day, but every April 19, that we live and breathe freedom.
Let us push our elected leaders to recognize April 19 as Patriots’ Day.
Submitted by MARK C. WOODBURY, St George.
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