Happy Patriots' Day!

Today marks the observance of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which opened the military hostilities of the American Revolution.

Yesterday (April 19th) was the actual anniversary, but in Massachusetts, Patriots' Day is observed on the third Monday of April.

April 19th also marks "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" (and William Dawes and others).

Now, as a bunch of Philadelphians who also have our ties to Massachusetts, we feel compelled to point out, however, that Paul Revere made a whole career out of riding around telling people things. Prior to the famous ride, Paul Revere had ridden all the way from Boston to Philadelphia to inform the First Continental Congress (whom Revere located at the City Tavern) that the British had closed Boston Harbor.

When it comes to the famous midnight ride, Paul Revere was just one of many alarm riders who were sent out to warn of British troop movements and threats of arrest towards the revolutionary leaders.

And implicit in all these riders and their "Midnight Ride" are of course the horses.

The National Lancers of the Massachusetts Militia reenacts The Ride every Patriots' Day.

(That's a nice looking gray Arab that "Paul Revere" rode last year, but nothing at all like a "Yankee" horse or Narragansett pacer that he probably rode.)