(Publisher’s note: For those of you reading today from the 178 other countries who visit us each month, today’s article, while American-centric, is not about being an American. It is about belonging to something bigger than one’s self. Today, we are unified as global citizens and as “procurement patriots!”)
Patriots’ Day 2020
All is quiet, on New Year’s Patriots’ Day,
A world in white green is underway
Today is Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts, Maine, Wisconsin, Connecticut (since 2018), and North Dakota (since 2019) in the United States.
It is here is where we turn it over to Wikipedia:
“Patriots’ Day (so punctuated in several U.S. states, but Patriot’s Day in Maine) is an annual event, formalized as several state holidays, commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Menotomy, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.
The holiday was originally celebrated on April 19, the actual anniversary of the battles (fought in 1775). Since 1969, it has been observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and in Maine (which until the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was part of Massachusetts). The Monday holiday creates a three-day long weekend. It is also the first day of a vacation week for public schools in both states and a school holiday for many local colleges and universities, both public and private.
Observances and re-enactments of the battles occur annually at Lexington Green in Lexington, Massachusetts (around 6:00 am) and the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts (around 9:00 am).
The most significant celebration of Patriots’ Day is the Boston Marathon, which has been run every Patriots’ Day since April 19, 1897, even during the World War years. Therefore, sometimes the holiday is referred to as “Marathon Monday”…
The Boston Red Sox have been scheduled to play at home in Fenway Park on Patriots’ Day every year since 1959.”
As a family tradition, I typically take my kids to the early Red Sox game, then walk out after the game to watch the marathon before eating an early dinner in town. Then, we’d be off the next day to see their grandparents for the rest of the ‘Spring Break’ week.
But, 2020 is the year we push pause on many traditions. We WILL get them back and we WILL start to make new traditions in the interim.
I’ll be back a bit later to talk about Ardent’s new virtual series (and possibly a new annual tradition) and a great session tomorrow on sustainability.
With no game or marathon today, let me leave you with a song I saw live in Fenway in 2018 – I am a Patriot by Pearl Jam (the link is to a better quality recording from Jacksonville in 2016).
A FEW ARDENT PARTNERS RESEARCH TRADITIONS
Ardent’s 15th Annual – World Premiere Webinar – The State of Procurement 2020 – April 30th @ 2pm ET (a ‘procurement tradition unlike any other’)
Ardent’s 15th Annual – State of ePayables 2020 Survey– if you have 15 minutes to spare this week
Ardent’s 3rd Annual AP Metrics That Matter in 2020 eBook
