By Art Alpert
Volunteers from Becket’s Yoked Parish staged a dramatic remembrance of the start of the American Revolution at the First Congregational Church here in Becket on Patriot’s Day, April 21st. MA250 is a statewide initiative to celebrate 250 years of America’s independence and Massachusetts’ revolutionary legacy, and Becket’s remembrance is the first such event to be held in Berkshire County.
The ceremony began with the ringing of the Paul Revere church bell at noon by local student Jonah Rawson, calling those attending inside the church. Once gathered, the names of the 25 Revolutionary War veterans buried in the Becket Center Cemetery (as designated by the Daughters of the American Revolution) were recited, followed by readings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1863 “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Rita Furlong and John J. Daly’s 1918 “A Toast to the Flag” by Christopher Tourtellot. Moving outdoors, the group honored the veterans who served in the country’s fight for freedom with a wreath and a musket salute by uniformed representatives of the Colonel Henry Knox Regimental Color Guard of the Sons of the American Revolution. Pastor Bill Mulholland ended the ceremony with taps.
In an announcement on September 17, 2024, Governor Maura Healey explained that “Massachusetts 250 is a statewide, ongoing celebration of our history and everything that makes our state special. Massachusetts is where the Revolution began and where the Revolution continues. We are first in freedom, first in education, first in health care, and first in innovation.” For those interested in other statewide celebrations, go to https://massachusetts250.org.
For more information on Becket’s Paul Revere bell, see Becket Beat’s October 2022 story at https://becketbeat.org/october/ and scroll to page 3. Photos below courtesy of Art Alpert.
Revolutionary War Veterans
Buried in Becket Center Cemetery
Ebenezer Adams
Lt. James Birchard
Dr. Oliver Brewster
Andrew Broga
Lt. David Brown
Jacob Carter
Joshua Chapman
Capt. Jonas Childs
Anthony Church
George Conant
Jonah Cushman
James Harris
Joseph Higley
Micah Higley
Milton Johnson
Capt. Solomon King
Amos Kingsley
Nathaniel Kingsley
John Messenger
Lt. Joseph Moore
Asa Snow
Levi Snow
Jabez Wadsworth
Jonathan Wadsworth
Deacon Ebenezer Walden
