Patriot’s Day: 1 for the redcoats

Perhaps Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was onto something in 1861 when he wrote, “Hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous day and year.”

Those lines from the familiar poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” refer to the stirring events of April 19, 1775, when 77 Massachusetts militiamen fought some 700 British soldiers who were on their way to capture a cache of arms in Concord and forced the redcoats to make a hasty retreat to Boston.

In Maine and Massachusetts, we commemorate that courageous early battle of the American Revolution with an official state holiday known as Patriot’s Day.

On Monday, Patriot’s Day 2003, I went to the mall to find out what today’s New Englanders knew about this historic occasion. Judging from the preponderance of blank stares and puzzled expressions I got in return, however, I’d have to say that this is one state holiday that could use a star-spangled publicity campaign.

“I have heard of Patriot’s Day, but I have no idea where I heard about it or what it means,” said a 16-year-old girl from Skowhegan who was in Bangor on a shopping trip with her friends.

“Patriot’s Day?” said her 14-year-old companion. “I know I’ve seen it on a calendar. I think it’s, like, the day after Easter holiday, and has something to do with wars and stuff.”

Gerry Gould of Hollis said of course she knew what day it was, and she even proceeded to quote a couple of lines from the Longfellow poem to prove her point.

“I’d better know what Patriot’s Day is about,” Gould said with a smile. “I’m a teacher.”

Lynette Jipson, a 29-year-old salesclerk from Corinth, agreed that it was Maine’s least familiar state holiday, one that has always suffered from poor name recognition. In fact, none of the customers she had spoken with that day had even the slightest clue to the significance of the day.

“I don’t really know either,” Jipson said. “I think it has something to do with … hmmm … with people who served in wars, honoring our veterans and that kind of thing, although I could be wrong.”

Dave Cassidy of Deer Isle had no trouble identifying the special day.

“Sure I know what day it is, it’s Monday,” said Cassidy, who runs Dave’s Guide Service. “No, I don’t know anything about Patriot’s Day, except that it’s a week from the opening of the turkey hunting season.”

It’s the day they run the Boston Marathon, several respondents told me.

It’s the day we Mainers honor the New England Patriots for winning the Super Bowl in 2002, said one teenager, whose buddy nodded sagely and said, “Sounds good to me.”

It’s definitely an important day in New England’s history, others replied confidently, although few could recall what it was we were supposed to commemorate.

“I do know we observe Patriot’s Day in Maine, and that it’s a holiday, although I can’t tell you why right offhand,” said Fern Rodrigue of Waterville.

“It’s a time to honor all of the men who died for our country,” said Linda, his wife, gamely taking a stab at an explanation.

I then asked her if she would be surprised to know that Patriot’s Day is actually an observance of the valiant battles of Lexington and Concord, when Maine was still a part of Massachusetts.

“Yes, I would be surprised,” she said. “And I guess that makes me feel about as dumb as everyone else about this question, doesn’t it?”