Despite the cold, rainy, and snowy weather on Saturday, it didn’t stop the Bedford Minutemen from raising the liberty pole in Willson Park.
There were hundreds of spectators cheering on the newest and youngest member of the local Minuteman company – 23-year-old Ryan Ouellette, who climbed the pole, wearing the traditional red woolen cap that he placed on top in defiance of British rule. After his climb, Ouellette needed to deal with the sharp tongue of Col. Paul O’Shaughnessey, quartermaster of His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment of Foot in America. Ryan was led away by British soldiers.
The annual pole capping event always takes place on the Saturday before the Patriots Day weekend, opening the historical commemorative season in New England.
The morning began with a parade along The Great Road from the Common to Willson Park where Concord and North roads diverge. The Minutemen carried the liberty pole from Fitch Tavern at 12 The Great Road, where historians say the original fighting unit had something to eat before marching to the North Bridge area in Concord to confront British troops in 1775.
Taking part in Saturday’s parade were colonial marchers from a dozen area towns and southern New Hampshire as well as the ceremonial speakers and distinguished guests from the Bedford Select Board, School Committee, Planning Board, the Town Manager and Clerk, Superintendent of Schools, Head of DPW and the members of the Bedford Fire and Police departments.
Speaking from the podium in the Willson Park during the ceremony were Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger, state Sen. Michael Barrett, state Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Select Board Chair Shawn Hanegan, who as honorary captain wore a tricorn hat with a white cockade; and Town Historian Sharon McDonald. Former Minuteman Captain Jim Ringwood was the master of ceremonies.
Another big highlight of the morning was the presentation of the Marion Bryan Citizenship Award to Bedford High School senior Elena Protasowicki.
She is a peer leader and sports team captain with a long record of successful fundraising with Relay for Life.
The award, sponsored by the Bedford Minuteman Company, is named for a longtime beloved substitute teacher in the Bedford schools. Bryan died in Dec. 2021 at age 95.
The recipient of the Citizenship Award is selected by teachers in the Bedford High School Social Studies Department. Protasowicki also received a scholarship from the Bedford Minutemen.
Representatives from Hanscom including Maj. Gen. Anthony Genatempo, Col. Taona Enriquez, and Chief Master Sgt. Charles Desaulniers participated in a memorial wreath laying, followed by a colonial lament performed by the William Diamond Junior Fife and Drum Corps.
After the ceremony, the Bedford Minutemen served lunch to all of the visiting colonial units at the high school, and then traveled to Meriam’s Corner on Lexington Road in Concord for the annual early afternoon re-enactment there.
Bedford’s pole-capping began shortly after the Minuteman company was reconstituted in 1964. The event is always held the Saturday before the Patriots Day weekend, opening the historical commemorative season in New England.
The Minutemen’s website describes the colonial pole-capping as “defiance to the British crown,” exemplifying a “spirit of liberty.” Beginning in 1765, it relates, the Sons of Liberty frequently met at a large elm tree in Boston. “From the trunk of the tree was fastened a pole which rose far above the topmost branch, and a red flag floated from it to call together the fearless members of the organization.”
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