LEXINGTON - In the moments ahead of the Battle of Lexington, the start of the American Revolution, it’s easy to imagine how tense it might have been when Massachusetts militiamen first got a glimpse of hundreds of British soldiers marching towards them.
On that historic day in 1775, there were between 40 and 100 spectators who watched the battle from alongside the road. Standing on the Lexington town common as fingers of pink dawn pierced the inky black skies, thousand of spectators on Monday were able to see the exact moments in which America first fought for its freedom 242 years ago.
In the early morning, dozens of re-enactors in period British military garb marched up Massachusetts Avenue, as a handful of re-enactors portraying Lexington's militia company poured out of Buckman Tavern, joining a few others standing in ranks on the Battle Green waiting for the redcoats.
Hearing the alarm bells nearby and then a steady pounding of British drums, the Lexington Minute Men lined up, nervous, angry and excited.
Getting closer and closer, the army marched on. Famously, Militia Captain John Parker utters the words, “Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."
British soldiers, wild with excitement, traded barbs with the defiant colonists.
Then, a single shot and chaos.
Amid dozens of gun shots, yelling and running, eight colonists are killed including John Brown, Samuel Hadley, Caleb Harrington, Jonathon Harrington, Robert Munroe, Isaac Muzzey, Asahel Porter, and Jonas Parker.
Jonathon Harrington, fatally wounded by a British musket ball, managed to crawl back to his home, and died on his own doorstep.
Every member of the Lexington Minute Men re-enactment company portrays a historical counterpart from the original Lexington militia, formed in 1773. They dress in Colonial garb, authentic down to the smallest detail. Each re-enactor's outfit is made of all-natural fibers — linen, wool and cotton — along with a tricorner hat. Their British counterparts are clad in bright red coats, white pants and high black boots or gaiters.
Just moments prior to the battle, a re-enactor playing Issac Muzzey explained his character’s motivation for lining up in front of the oncoming British soldiers. He and his fellow Lexingtonians wanted to show their resolve.
“It’s been unfair when they close up the harbor in Boston,” he said. “I’m not so much afraid as I am apprehensive.”
Muzzey praised his fellow minutemen, calling them brave patriots.
“There all very good citizens, and they feel strongly about freedom and their rights,” he said. “The parliament and the king see it fit not to see it our way. That’s what courage is about, you have to stand and speak for yourself and for what you believe in.”
New Hampshire resident Ralph Gerenz has been a part of the Lexington Minute Men for 42 years and this year brought his two granddaughters, Marie and Genevieve, along.
“I play Thomas Winship and I’m wounded in the knee,” he said. “My granddaughters come to my aid after the British have gone.”
A former Lexington resident, Gerenz said he’s motivated each year by a need to remember history and increase pride in America.
New spectators discovering history
Hull resident Mary Wall and her grandson Joey Shelafo from Duxbury said it was their first time coming to Lexington to see the re-enactment.
“It was on my bucket list,” Wall said. “I was so excited to come and take my grandson. I see it every year on TV and we finally made it happen this year.”
First-timers Erin and Tim Powderly from Chelmsford brought their children Nolan and Riley early to get front row seats.
“We got up around 3:45 a.m. and the kids were great,” Powderly said. “Nolan is in third grade and he’s learning about the American Revolution now in school.”
“We’ve been talking about it for a few years and we just finally made the leap,” she added. “It worked out because the weather is great.”
Sarah Perrault brought her family from Shrewsbury, including daughters Isabella, Sophia and son Andrew, who is studying the America Revolution in school currently.
"Thought it would be a good year to see it," she said.
"It wasn't exactly like my teacher told us," Andrew said.
"It's just hard to imagine," she said. "You realize they were just alone in a field by themselves. It's crazy to imagine that."
Tim Sulahian from Melrose said it was his first time attending as he walked back to the green in the early morning after dropping his family off.
"It was a bit tough getting them up but they were good," he said. "My wife grew up going to this so I'm excited to see the main event."
Familiar celebration of community
While the dawn fight on Lexington Town Green is billed as a battle, Lexington native Henry Liu said it was more of a skirmish. Despite being a massive history buff Liu, who has been a part of the re-enactment on Patriots' Day for the past 28 years, said his decision to actually join the Minute Men had more to do with his wife. Her brother, her stepfather and stepbrother were all members of the Minute Men.
Liu spent years portraying Minuteman John Tidd, who was wounded in the Battle of Lexington and lived to tell the tale.
“To see thousands of people lined up watching silently its incredible,” Liu said. “You can feel the tension even though we all know what’s going to happen.”
For the Minute Men, Liu creates press releases and works on various logistical issues to keep things running smoothly.
Even though he’s seen the battle dozens of times, Liu said he still gets goosebumps in the moments before it starts.
“No one knew there would be shooting,” he said. “There were eight men killed that day and several wounded. Only one of the British suffered a minor injury.”
“I still get excited when the first shot goes off,” he said. “We’re on the grounds where it happened hundreds of years ago and thanks to a lot of testimony, documentation and interviews we can talk about how it really happened.”
After years of reenacting, this year Liu also narrated the battle from a podium on the edge of Lexington's Battle Green.
“It’s chance to see how things really happened in Lexington so long ago,” he said. “It’s still amazing to watch.”
Dan Fenn has been a Lexington resident since 1949 and a spent years re-enacting as a member of the Lexington Minute Men Company. At 94, Fenn said he retired from the yearly celebration a few years back.
“I just couldn’t get off the field in time” in the face of the British charge, he joked.
For Fenn, a one-time staffer to President John F. Kennedy, each year he spent re-creating the start of the American Revolution is still moving, decades after he started.
“You look up at this massive group marching down on you,” he said. “And they look huge, with shiny brass, that bright red (clothing) and military precision. You get a sense of how those farmers must have felt standing on the green that morning.”
“There weren’t too many of them and but they stood there together,” he added.
Lynn resident Gene BiSaia crowded along the green with his wife and four children and their two friends.
"We've been here at least six or seven years," he said. "It messes with your sleep cycle a bit, but who cares."
BiSaia joked he would keep coming to the battle reenactment until the Colonial militia wins.
"After the battle we go for breakfast and go home and crash," he said. "This is absolutely unique."
"Part of the history is chance," he added. "Had it not been for a rumor or the warning, it could have been something completely different."
Jerry Michaelson, a longtime Lexingtonian, was setting up a Lions Club canteen ahead of the re-enactment in the early morning.
A third-generation community member, Michaelson called the event is a special time.
"To be living in this town and seeing the sunrise coming over the green, it's exciting," he said. "It's something I've done for years. I used to come down with my dad to set up when I was a kid and we still do it together each year."