GROTON — Destination Groton invites residents and visitors to attend Voices of Revolution: Groton’s Legacy at Bunker Hill and Beyond on Sunday, July 19, a special Massachusetts 250 event celebrating Groton’s pivotal role in the American Revolution.
The free public event begins at 12 p.m. on the Groton Town Common with a Revolutionary War reenactment featuring the 6th Middlesex Regiment and the Concord Fife & Drum Corps. At 1 p.m., attendees will proceed to the Richardson-Mees Performing Arts Center at Lawrence Academy for an afternoon of presentations by leading historians and authors, followed by a reception with light refreshments.
The event is funded in part through a generous grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 Grant Program.
“On April 19, 1775, 185 Groton men gathered on the common in front of the Old Meeting House to answer the call and march toward Concord,” said local historian and event moderator Joshua Vollmar. “Many would continue on toward Cambridge, where Groton’s Colonel William Prescott would later command American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill. This event offers an opportunity to better understand Groton’s role in the founding of our nation.”
Featured speakers include:
• Welcome from Groton Select Board Chair Peter Cunningham.
• Amelia McNutt, historian and author of America’s First Soldiers, presenting on the Massachusetts men who fought for independence during the opening years of the Revolution.
• Paul Staiti, acclaimed author, art historian and professor emeritus of fine arts at Mount Holyoke College, presenting Picturing the American Revolution, an exploration of how artists captured and shaped the story of America’s founding.
• Julie Hall, president of the Charlestown Historical Society, discussing the story of the Asa Pollard musket and its connection to Groton. Pollard was the first patriot killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill and stood alongside Col. William Prescott during the battle.
“We are honored to welcome such distinguished speakers to Groton as we continue to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary,” said Destination Groton Chair Greg Sheldon. “Their presentations will help bring Revolutionary history to life while highlighting Groton’s significant contributions to the American Revolution.”
Admission is free, but advance registration is encouraged.
To learn more and reserve a seat, visit DestinationGroton.com/RSVP.
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