Commemorative Events

During the recent January meeting of the Brunswick Town Chapter of the DAR members donned a tri corner paper hat to honor the 275th anniversary of the birth of Paul Revere. In addition, those famous words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, on the eighteen of April, in severty-five; hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous day and year", were read to the DAR members attending. Longfellow's poem, written 40 years after Revere died, made Paul famous. As most of us know from high school history classes, the Boston Tea Party led us to the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Colonists refused to pay the English taxes on tea and other products. Longfellow was inspired to write the poem after visiting the Old North Church and climbing its tower April, 1860. It is said he began writing the poem the following day. Many people, past and present, claim the poem has many inaccuracies but historians write that Paul Revere completed his mission of alerting the countryside and especially patriots, Adams and Hancock.

The commemorative events chair of the Brunswick Chapter identifies historically significant events connected to our founding fathers and during each month's meeting she delivers a short narrative about each event or anniversary. For example, "Lincoln Pennies for Charity", is an activity started in October and ending in February on the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Each member was encouraged to collect Lincoln pennies to be donated to an identified charity, in this case, the Brunswick Town Historical site.