Hear ye, hear ye good people of Medina and visitors from afar! The City of Medina will host Two Lights for Tomorrow, a nationwide initiative to commemorate what happened on the night of Friday, April 18, 1775, that became the beginning of the Revolutionary War. This is the date of Paul Revere’s famous ride through Middlesex County, Massachusetts to alert the Minutemen of the impending attack from the British forces, and whether they would come by land or by sea. This is one of the events that will happen in 2025, as we count down to 2026, and the city’s year-long celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.

Medina citizens and visitors of all ages are invited to gather with their lanterns in the Medina Square on Friday, April 18, at 8:30 pm. Sybil Ludington, aka Medina’s Eleanor Kristan, will share with us the famous poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride”, that was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1860, 85 years after the event. The poem is a fictionalized version of what actually happened on this night.

You will also hear from William Dawes, aka Medina’s Charles Ramer, a tanner by trade and member of the Boston militia. Dawes, who was actually one of several men that rode at the same time as Paul Revere on April 18th, will share with attendees what actually happened on this important date in history. Paul Revere himself will make an appearance looking for the signal lights in the church tower, and there will be an opportunity for photos with our visitors from the past.

The residents of Medina are also asked to join the nation in leaving two lights burning in their homes through the night of April 18th to help commemorate the ride. They are also requested to complete some type of community service on Saturday, April 19, so contact your favorite local charity to see what you might do to help.

Leading up to this event, during the week of April 14th, the Medina Library will host a craft project for children, at which they can make their own lantern to bring to the park on the evening of April 18.