HAPPY EVACUATION DAY?
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
March 18, 2006
So it’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend! Corned beef, Guinness beer, jigs and reels, pots o’ gold under the rainbow being guarded by mischievous leprechauns, and, of course, the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Westfield Sons of Erin contingent in the parade this year will be lead by our 2006 Parade Marshall Councilor Brian Sullivan. He will lead our Colleen, Caitlin Ann Leveille, and her Court; consisting of Courtney Sullivan, Kelsey Raymond, Mary Tenero, and Kerry Kareta. The 2006 Irishman of the Year is Tim Burke and the Irishwoman of the Year is Beverly Blascak.
The float committee has designed and built an excellent entry this year, as always. “St. Patrick Driving the Snakes Out of Ireland” is destined to be a judge’s favorite and a real crowd pleaser. Many people from Westfield will be marching in the parade Sunday. Let’s hope we have the luck of the Irish and good weather once again.
Long-time readers of my column know that March 17 is also something else in Massachusetts history besides St. Patrick’s Day. March 17 is Evacuation Day.
Evacuation Day commemorates a very important date in early American history. It was one of the first victories that General George Washington and the rag-shag Continental Army had during the Revolutionary War, the War for Independence with Great Britain. Westfield plays a part in the history of that event.
I read an excellent book last year called 1776. It was written by Massachusetts resident, author, and historian David McCullough. I met McCullough at an Emerging Political Leaders Conference I attended last year at the University of Virginia.
While the book is about the Revolutionary War, it mainly tells the story of the year 1776. General Henry Knox, a 25 year old Boston book seller and friend of General Washington’s, was tasked with bringing captured French cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights in South Boston overlooking the Boston Harbor.
What follows are some excerpts from David McCullough’s book, 1776. “Knox selected 58 mortars and cannon...The plan was to transport the guns by boat down Lake George, which had not completely frozen over. At the lake’s southern end would begin the long haul overland, south as far as Albany before turning east toward Boston across the Berkshire Mountains.
“Our armament here was a great curiosity,” wrote John Becker of the reception at the town of Westfield. “We found that very few, even among the oldest inhabitants, had ever seen a cannon.”
“We were the great gainers by this curiosity, for while they were employed in remarking upon our guns, we were, with equal pleasure, discussing the qualities of their cider and whiskey. These were generously brought out in great profusion.”
As history records, Knox was successful in his mission. Not a single gun was lost during the long, hard, treacherous journey. The artillery was dragged up the Heights of Dorchester during the night and placed where they would be able to fire upon the British warships in the harbor. When the day dawned and the British saw the gun emplacements, they made the decision to leave Boston.
I have always believed Evacuation Day should be remembered and observed for its historical significance not just in Suffolk Country, but across the Commonwealth. Especially we in Westfield, who were remembered for our excellent hospitality to Henry Knox’ men and the cannon train, have reason to celebrate the day.
Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their NEW Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366.
Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460.
Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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