COME AND MAKE HISTORY!!!
THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD
250TH ANNIVERSARY!
SATURDAY – APRIL 19TH AT THE STATE CAPITOL
10:00 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M.
Click Here to see the event flyer!
(Click image to see flyer)
In 2026 Americans will celebrate
The 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,
the year America became an independent nation!
In 2025 we will consider the significant events
of 1775 leading up to July 4, 1776.
Welcome to the Official website of the Utah Society Sons of the American Revolution (Utah SAR).
Members of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are direct descendants of those patriots that achieved the independence of the American people. We remember and honor our patriot ancestors sacrifice and devotion to the cause of liberty.
The objectives of our organization are intended to perpetuate a more profound understanding and appreciation for our founding heritage, the principles of liberty, freedom and self-government as established by our Founding Fathers.
Whether or not you have a Patriot Ancestor, we invite you to explore our website, to learn more about us, who we are, what we do, and how to become a Member or Associate.
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In 2026 Americans will celebrate
The 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,
the year America became an independent nation!
In 2025 we will consider a significant event
of 1775 leading up to July 4, 1776.
The Road to Independence
250 years ago – 1774
The city of Boston was controlled by General Thomas Gage who had been appointed Royal Governor of Massachusetts in 1774. He commanded the military forces occupying Boston and was tasked with suppressing all colonial unrest.
On March 23rd the 2nd Virginia Convention was held at St. John’s Church in Richmond. Virginia Governor Lord Dunmore had dissolved the Virginia House of Burgess, thinking this would help calm the fiery feelings of the Burgess members. Locked out of the Burgess building, the members chose to continue meeting elsewhere.
March 23rd was the day Patrick Henry gave his famous speech. Watch this short video as actors portray Founding Fathers reliving that fateful moment in American history.
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry’s Liberty or Death Speech
Henry’s Liberty or Death words spread like wildfire throughout the colonies. Soon other colonies were joining with Massachusetts and Virginia in preparing to defend their liberties.
April 18 and 19 are the days in American History that brought about the beginning of the American Revolution. Inspired by Henry’s words and determined to resist the British government’s oppression, the militia at Lexington got word that the soldiers were coming to confiscate the militia’s powder and arms. The colonists moved it to a secret location and prepared themselves for an unwanted confrontation. On the evening of the 18th two lanterns were lit and shown from the tower of Boston’s Old North Church. This prearranged signal – one if by land or two if by sea, told the three riders, Revere, Dawson, and Prescott how the Redcoat soldiers would be coming.
After midnight they began riding through the countryside to warn the colonists and Minutemen. They were especially concerned about warning John Hancock and Sam Adams. Both were hiding as General Gage wanted them to be arrested.
Early on the morning of the 19th the Lexington Minutemen assembled on the village green. They could hear the drums and fifes of the British Regulars coming toward them. Approximately 700 soldiers would soon be in Lexington. The militia’s Captain John Parker gave his orders, “Stand your ground! Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
As the Redcoats marched onto the village green, the soldier’s leader, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith shouted at the Minutemen, “Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye Rebels, Disperse!” But the 77 Minutemen did not throw down their arms, they did not disperse. They bravely stood their ground! As the 700 British Regulars pointed their flintlocks at the minutemen, the minutemen pointed their flintlocks at the British Regulars. Suddenly without warning someone fired a shot – The Shot Heard Round the World!
Gunshots rang out, 8 minutemen were fatally wounded or lay dead. The Lexington Minutemen made a hasty retreat. How ironic that 8 would die that day, the same number of years the War for Independence would last.
Sam Adams has gone down in history, upon hearing the gunfire saying to John Hancock as they both were hiding, “What a glorious morning this is!” He knew that at long last the fight for America’s independence had begun!
Thousands of colonists grabbed their guns and came to shoot at the British Regulars. They chased them to Concord and all the way back to Boston. As the sun set and the evening came, the battles of Lexington and Concord concluded.
Let us consider the events that followed April 19th.
Not wanting a repeat of Lexington, on April 21st Lord Dunmore had his troops seize the colonist’s powder at the Williamsburg magazine. Outraged by the Governor’s actions, Patrick Henry led a small group of militia to force return of the gunpowder. Dunmore paid Henry for the powder which did have a calming effect. But fearing for his life, he retreated to a Naval vessel, effectively ending royal control of the Virginia colony.
On May 9th Ethan Allen, his Green Mountain Boys, and Benedict Arnold captured Fort Ticonderoga. The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10th and elected John Hancock as President.
On June 14th the Continental Army was created by congress with George Washington as the army’s commanding general. June 14, 2025, will be the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army!
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17th. The British army suffered large losses. On July 2nd Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
On July 8th Congress sent to King George III the Olive Branch Petition. On August 23rd the King issued a proclamation declaring the colonies in rebellion.
October 13th the Continental Navy was established by Congress. October 13, 2025, will be the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy!
From October to December an army of up to 3,000 Patriot militia under Colonel Richard Richardson marched against Loyalist recruiting centers in South Carolina, flushing them out and frustrating attempts by the Loyalists to organize. The Patriot expedition became known as the Snow Campaign due to heavy snowfall in the later stages of the campaign.
On November 10th the Continental Marines were established by the Continental Congress. November 10, 2025, will be the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marines!
Agreeing with Washington that having cannon to lay siege to Boston would greatly aid the patriot cause, Henry Knox took a group of men to Fort Ticonderoga and transported 59 captured cannons from upstate New York to Boston. This took 56 days to complete. They started out on December 5th and arrived back at Washington’s encampment near Boston on January 24, 1776.
An attempt to capture Quebec on December 31st by colonial soldiers ends in disaster. General Richard Montgomery is killed, and General Benedict Arnold is badly wounded. French Canadians do not support the American invasion (Arnold, at this time, was loyal to the patriot cause).
Despite the humiliating loss in Canada, the colonial rebellion is gathering momentum. The words of Patrick Henry are taking hold of freedom loving colonists. The words that in many ways would become the motto of the American Revolution.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!
Images are from Wikimedia Commons
