FOLEY — On April 19, 1775, the American Revolution began when British forces marched and fired on American soldiers in Massachusetts cities Lexington and Concord.

250 years later, the City of Foley recognized and honored the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which led to America's separation from the British Empire. The commemorative event was held and attended by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Children of the American Revolution (CAR) and curious or interested individuals not a part of the organizations.

As stated in a press release for the event, the SAR, DAR and CAR are organizations of direct descendants of those who fought or supported the American Revolution. The release also stated that the City of Foley was an active supporter of this event as part of its "broader initiative to honor and teach American history."

Jim Corum, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and author of several military history books, is the president of the General Galvez Chapter of the SAR and was the main speaker for the event.

"Our job of our organization is not only to commemorate and honor but to educate the public about the American Revolution," Corum said.

He mentioned how other cities in Alabama were participating in the 250th anniversary, such as a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington at the American Village in Montevallo. The General Galves Chapter has "about 100 members."

The event kicked off with a prayer from the Rev. Ryan Cramer from St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Corum said the revolutionary armies were a "very religious group" and George Washington prayed before and after each military expenditure. So, the groups follow suit.

After the prayer, the SAR color guard lined up and marched toward the Veteran's Memorial flagpole at the Foley Centennial Park to raise a 13-star American flag. The color guard was in full Revolutionary War uniform or colonial wear, as were most of the DAR and CAR attendees.

After that, the SAR marched around the Veteran's memorial before Corum read aloud the proclamation that was passed in the April 8 Foley City Council meeting.

"The cause of the war begins with the right of Americans to govern themselves," he read. "This right was first established in British North America when the colonists of the new Virginia Colony in 1619 convened a legislature, the Virginia House of Delegates, consisting of elected representatives to make laws for the colony."

He continued to read how, in 1774, the British Parliament implemented "Intolerable Acts" upon the Americans that essentially gave the British crown power to "abolish the colonial legislatures" and hold direct British rule on the Province of Massachusetts.

Corum explained in a historical presentation after the flag ceremony that the American's responded to these acts by holding their legislative session as planned and forming the Continental Congress, which, as the proclamation states, was composed of representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies. The Continental Congress formed a plan of response to this "assault on American freedoms."

In the presentation, Corum quoted Levi Preston, an American soldier who was interviewed several decades after the war, on why he fought for America.

Corum said it wasn't a reaction to earlier acts such as the Stamp Act or the Tea Act, which prompted the Boston Tea Party and similar revolts, and it wasn't for liberties inspired by the writings of John Locke and other revolutionary figures. It was because the British were trying to take away something they had previously given to the Americans; their freedom to govern themselves.

Corum quoted Preston, saying, "Well, we'd always governed ourselves and we meant to keep on governing ourselves. The British meant to stop us and we weren't going to let them."

The proclamation reads, "It must be remembered that the citizen soldiers who first confronted the army of the world's most powerful empire were not a mob, nor a dissident group, nor a political faction — but men who served as soldiers under the authority of their own elected government."

Corum said many of the officials or leaders to the early American army groups had warfare experience from the Seven Years War, which was fought from 1756 to 1763, giving some of them more of an advantage over the British troops.

Also in the presentation, Corum gave a brief rundown on the British march through Lexington to Concord and the fights that ensued along the way there and back.

He also shared fun facts such as the common misrepresentation in Revolutionary War statues, by presenting the soldiers as young men with a full head of hair and wearing nothing but a light shirt.

He said the soldiers, especially the commanders, were mostly older, balding men, as all males "from 16 to 60" were forced to join the American Army. He said the soldiers at the Battle of Lexington would likely have been wearing their thick wool coats and not just an undershirt as the battle was held at dawn, which would make it comfortable conditions for layering in the Northeast.

Other fun facts he shared were about the other, lesser known, midnight riders of the beginning of the war. Outside of Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott and William Dawes among others rode to Concord from Boston to warn certain officials of the British march.

He also briefly mentioned women's roles in the war as launderesses and nurses who traveled along with the army groups throughout the war.

Corum said to keep an eye out for more upcoming events through the SAR, DAR or CAR as they celebrate the anniversaries of many American Revolution events 250 years later.