Lincoln starts gearing up for the nation’s 250th birthday

Here’s your SAT word for the day: “semiquincentennial.” That means 250th anniversary, which is coming up for the United States — and Lincoln and neighboring towns will be deeply involved in the celebration.

The Select Board has established the Lincoln250 Planning Committee to “identify thoughtful, creative, and inclusive opportunities to celebrate Lincoln’s contributions to the American Revolution” starting with the historic battles of Concord and Lexington in April 1775.

“Lincoln250 is committed to engaging our community in a variety of events that will bring together residents of all ages and backgrounds to learn and enjoy our place in history,” said committee chair and Select Board member Kim Bodnar. The group, which held its first meeting on September 25, held a logo contest, which was won by Lincolnite Lis Herbert.

The group envisions events beginning in 2024 and extending through July 2026 and is pursuing grant opportunities to fund some of the events and services for the expected influx of visitors. One of those possibilities is a shuttle service between Concord, Lexington and Lincoln, which was the focus of a 2021 feasibility study.

Although the semiquincentennial is a statewide effort, “there’s no question communities like Lincoln, Lexington and Concord will eventually be at the top of the line to get some serious funding,” State Sen. Michael Barrett said in July, when the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism received a $1 million grant to hire staff and coordinate with cities and towns.

“The objective here in general is to celebrate groups that were marginalized in past celebrations — we’re talking about enslaved people, members of minority groups, women, and Native Americans. We certainly want to include the folks who carried the muskets and who were the demographics majority of the time the American Revolution, too, but the idea is to broaden the lens and widen the celebration,” Barrett said.

Lincoln250 is also collaborating with the Battle Road communities of Arlington, Concord, and Lexington as well as the Minuteman National Historical Park and Hanscom Air Force Base.

To learn more or volunteer at Lincoln250 events or activities, email Bodnar at bodnark@lincolntown.org. Activity and event information will be posted on the town website and will soon have its own web page.

Other members of the Lincoln250 Planning Committee are:

• Chris Bibbo, DPW Superintendent
• Brianna Doo, Parks and Recreation Department
• Amanda Fargo, committee liaison to Lincoln’s businesses
• Donald Hafner, Historical Society and member of Lincoln Minute Men
• Tim Higgins, Town Administrator
• Chief Kevin Kennedy and Lieutenant Sean Kennedy of the Lincoln Police
• Sara Mattes, committee liaison to Lincoln’s nonprofit organizations, Historical Society, and Bemis Trustee
• Kim Rajdev, School Committee
• Rachel Marie Schachter, Bemis Trustee
• Ray Shepard, Lincoln’s representative on Massachusetts Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and Lincoln Library Trustee
• Rick Wiggin, member of Lincoln Minute Men