2A | Thursday, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | THE CONCORD JOURNAL | WITH NEWS FROM LINCOLN
Honoring Col. James Barrett
The Old Concord Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution honoring Col. James Barrett at his grave. From left to right: Kristina Joyce, Elizabeth Arnow, Kristin Grip back, Lynn Umina back, Barbara “Lee” Flight, Cheryl Petersen front, Debbie Vardaro back, and Alice Galinat. COURTESY PHOTO
6A | Thursday, JANUARY 27, 2022 | THE CONCORD JOURNAL | WITH NEWS FROM LINCOLN
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PERSPECTIVES
DAR CORNER - OLD CONCORD CHAPTER
Remembering our Patriots
Remembering our Patriots
|
Courtesy of THE DAUGHTERS OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION The Old Concord Chapter (OCC) Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored Col. James Barrett with a ceremony at his grave in Old Hill Burying Ground with his wreath from Wreaths Across America (WAA).
The OCC and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) are preparing for the United States 250th anniversary in July 2026. Part of these efforts is to honor the patriots of the American Revolution. WAA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach about the service and sacrifice of our veterans, and their families make. Barrett was commissioned as colonel and given the command of the Middlesex Militia Regiment by the Provincial Congress in 1774. Barrett had been a captain during the French and Indian War. The Provincial Congress gave him charge of most of the colonial’s military stores including four brass cannons. On the first day of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, Barrett ensured the King’s Regulars, who marched to Concord for the purpose of taking the colonial military stores, did not find much of anything to take. Barrett also ordered his companies to march to the bridge and not to fire unless fired upon Barrett’s success in hiding the colonial military stores |
was a victory on the first day of the American Revolutionary War. The British regulars marched back to Boston amongst angry colonials and prepared colonial militia. If it was not for James Barrett’s success in hiding the colonial military stores, history would have been different that day and subsequently.
When the OCC gathered at Col. James Barrett’s grave site, Kristina Joyce recited a prayer from the WAA and the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. Alice Galinat explained the lineage of the Martin Severance DAR Chapter in Pasadena, California daughter, who sponsored the wreath, to Col. James Barrett. James Barrett’s involvement at North Bridge and the hiding of the military stores was also discussed. The OCC is also honoring member patriots of the American Revolution by having brief descriptions on the chapter’s Facebook page. Learning our history and knowing where you have been thru our patriots, helps us all move forward. Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Others have made similar statements. The OCC covers the towns of Concord, Carlisle, Stow, Maynard, Acton, Boxborough, and Littleton and welcomes members from other locations. For more information on the Old Concord Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution see www.oldconcorddar.org. |