Shot heard round the world

[cman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Le...ton_and_Concord

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_heard_%27round_the_world

----

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,

And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We set to-day a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

---

This version is from "The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson" (1904), edited by Edward Waldo Emerson, who noted, "From a copy of this hymn as first printed on slips for distribution among the Concord people at the celebration of the completion of the monument on the battle-ground, I note the differences from the poem here given as finally revised by Mr. Emerson in the Selected Poems."

[mstar1]

I thought you were going to mention THIS.

Growing up not far from Concord and still living pretty close by Ive been to the bridge hundreds of times. In one sense its unimpressive and a very simple place surrounded by farmland not unlike thousands of other places. It could be the last place you would think that something world changing would happen

Its amazing the impact ordinary people can do when they decide to do something..

Monday is a holiday here...I dont know if they stop in remembrance in the rest of the country or not---they should

Edited April 19, 2009 by mstar1

[WordWolf]

http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Shot.html

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~varnum/Stor...se.html#History

"The British are coming! The British are coming!"

Now, the ride of Paul Revere

Set the nation on its ear,

And the shot at Lexington heard 'round the world,

When the British fired in the early dawn

The War of Independence had begun,

The die was cast, the rebel flag unfurled.

And on to Concord marched the foe

To seize the arsenal there you know,

Waking folks searching all around

Till our militia stopped them in their tracks,

At the old North Bridge we turned them back

And chased those Redcoats back to Boston town.

And the shot heard 'round the world

Was the start of the Revolution.

The Minute Men were ready, on the move.

Take your powder, and take your gun.

Report to General Washington.

Hurry men, there's not an hour to lose!

http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/pro...57826&itm=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM

[dmiller]

Its amazing the impact ordinary people can do when they decide to do something..

Monday is a holiday here...I dont know if they stop in remembrance in the rest of the country or not---they should

Monday is a holiday?? Oh --- Sure!!! That's right. It's 4/20! :B)

[WordWolf]

Monday is a holiday?? Oh --- Sure!!! That's right. It's 4/20! :B)

I'm sure a lot of high-schoolers will be celebrating it, that's for sure.....

[Linda Z]

MStar, I have photos of one of my high school friends and me on that bridge eons ago. Seeing it brings back memories of a fun trip to Boston many moons ago!

Cman, I thought you were going to talk about the Waco fiasco. It was also on April 19th that the Branch Davidian compound was burned and David Koresh and many of his followers died, ending the long standoff. I guess it was fresh in my mind because I heard a brief mention of it on the news this morning. Funny, I didn't hear anyone mention on the news what happened on that date in 1775. Priorities, I guess.

[cman]

yes it was that day as well,

what a mess that was

tomorrow is the columbine shooting on the 20th

i forgot where i heard about 1775

reading something today on the net

[mstar1]

Now, the ride of Paul Revere

Set the nation on its ear,

Little known but true was that during Reveres ride he stopped at a tavern and had a beer in Medford Mass.

I occasionally wonder what history would look like if his drinking habits were a little different and he had stayed for "just one more" several times

Editted to add:

Monday is a holiday?? Oh --- Sure!!! That's right. It's 4/20!

That got me to thinking where the term 420 came from--as if on cue this article showed up this morning...

Origins of "420",

Enjoy workin everyone, I have the day off. :)

Whether there is any 420 celebrations is yet to be determined

Edited April 20, 2009 by mstar1

[WordWolf]

Then again, Paul Revere got a lot of credit for the rides of a lot of people....

William Dawes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dawes

Samuel Prescott

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Prescott

the REAL long-range rider, Israel Bissell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Bissell

http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2007/04/isr...-and-press.html

and the Midnight Riders

http://colonial-america.suite101.com/artic...s_april_19_1775

http://colonial-america.suite101.com/artic...midnight_riders

[HAPe4me]

oh, different subject than I expected too. 04/20/1999 Columbine High School shootings. 14 students and one teacher died. 23 were injured. It was a scary and emotional day for us parents in the Jefferson County Colorado school district.

[WhiteDove]

Then again, Paul Revere got a lot of credit for the rides of a lot of people....

William Dawes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Dawes

Samuel Prescott

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Prescott

the REAL long-range rider, Israel Bissell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Bissell

http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2007/04/isr...-and-press.html

and the Midnight Riders

http://colonial-america.suite101.com/artic...s_april_19_1775

http://colonial-america.suite101.com/artic...midnight_riders

The Allman Brothers got a little riding I mean writing credit for the Midnight Rider as well!!!!!!

But I’m not gonna let them catch me, no,

Not gonna let ’em catch the midnight rider.

Live