And Evacuation Day, which truly is a silly holiday, is a wonderful way to allow everybody to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day without violating all that church and state stuff. One unique Massachusetts tradition is that, on this day, some tightwad state representative rails against how much Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day cost the state. Yes, Evacuation Day isn't a particularly momentous occasion in terms of U.S. history, but the Battle of Bunker Hill is kinda important--we should remember it. If the colonists had lost the battle, our history would be very different.
Besides, nobody's around in June anyway.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
I am (half) ethnic Irish and I grew up in a city that was as Irish as the Blarney Stone itself. When I was a teen armed with a false ID and a strong sense of purpose (that being to get drunk with my friends) we'd cruise the bars, starting on or near Madison, Lark and State (where I generally lived…
A couple of reader questions came in this week following our interview with the inspiring African-American leader and mentor, Jason Dorsette.
I had mentioned therein about first meeting Mr. Dorsette two years ago this week at a local Juneteenth celebration. A few readers, even those in the southern…
When Richard Dawkins and Bill O'Reilly are on the same side of an issue, it's a surprise. When it's an issue that involves religion in the public sphere, it's quite possibly a sign that the apocalypse is drawing nigh. Nevertheless, that seems to be the case at the moment.
Bill O'Reilly's views…
This is an early post of mine, written on February 11, 2005, a rare one in which I discuss my own lack of religion:
I had major computer problems last week so didn't think I would have the time to write a blog entry of my own for the third installment of the Carnival Of The Godless (found here),…
Actually the colonists did lose the Battle of Bunker Hill (the actuall battle occurred on Breeds Hill). Though they gave the British troops a bloody nose at the end of the day they had to abandon their positions and cede control of the hill to the British.
Every year around this time, the lack of recognition of St. Joseph's day makes me very sad :p
Ah but St. Paddy should have driven the cassock snakes out of Ireland.
It would have saved the RCC a wee bit of a scandal.
I thought Evacuation day was tomorrow. You know, when everyone is sitting on the can and holding a plastic bucket... evacuating the excesses of today.
Indeed--the Redcoats forced the colonists to retreat, but were then trapped on the peninsula, beginning the long Siege of Boston.
I lived for a while in a house that was partially built from beams used in one of the siege fortifications on Winter Hill.