Update: President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation, on April 17, 2025, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. The proclamation honors these battles as the first major armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War, marking the beginning of the fight for American independence. It highlights the courage of the minutemen, led by figures like Captain John Parker, and the pivotal role of Paul Revere’s midnight ride in alerting the colonists to the British advance. The proclamation designates April 19, 2025, as a day to commemorate these events, recognizing their significance in the founding of the United States.