Last week, I wrote about events in history that occurred in April, including the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. What I didn’t mention was that Patriots’ Day commemorates these battles and the start of the American Revolutionary War and is observed each year on the third Monday in April in Maine and Massachusetts. This year, the holiday is April 20. It is a day rooted in the birth of American resistance and the enduring idea that ordinary citizens can be called upon to defend something greater than themselves.

For veterans, Patriots’ Day carries a deeper resonance. While the uniforms, technology, and structure of today’s military are far removed from the citizen-soldiers of 1775, the core values remain familiar: duty, service, and willingness to act in defense of community and country. The militia at Lexington and Concord were not professional soldiers, they were farmers, tradesmen, and neighbors who answered a call to stand in defense of their rights and their homes.

That spirit continues through generations of military service. From the fields of Europe and the Pacific in World War II, to Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans have carried forward the same legacy of service that Patriots’ Day honors at its origin. The holiday serves as a reminder that the freedoms enjoyed today were secured through repeated acts of commitment and sacrifice.

For veterans in particular, the day can serve as both reflection and recognition. It is an opportunity to remember those who came before, to honor those who served alongside them, and to recognize that the responsibility of protecting liberty has never belonged to just one generation.

Patriots’ Day endures because it is not simply about a battle fought 250 years ago. It is about the continuing idea of service, an idea that veterans understand perhaps better than anyone.

Patriots’ Day can also serve as a natural starting point for a season of remembrance that leads to Memorial Day. While Patriots’ Day recalls the first citizens who stepped forward in 1775, it reminds us that service to the nation has always come at a cost. In the weeks that follow, communities have an opportunity to reflect, reconnect, and prepare to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. By beginning that journey on Patriots’ Day, we build a bridge from the birth of American service to the solemn remembrance that defines Memorial Day.

In towns like those in the Boothbay region and across Maine, this period offers a chance to come together through ceremonies, shared stories, and quiet moments of reflection, ensuring that the meaning behind both holidays is not lost.

In a few weeks, we will be seeing the veteran banners again displayed on the telephone poles thought the region. The banners put faces on those who have become part of the legacy of those who made the commitment and sacrifices to ensure we have the freedoms we enjoy today.