19 April 2011 Listen my children...

            At Concord, and at Lexington, bands of Colonial militias ignored the rules of civilized warfare.  Refusing a set piece battle, they fired from concealment when possible and defeated a markedly outnumbered British force of trained soldiers.

Belligerents
Province of Massachusetts Bay	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
John Parker James Barrett Major John Buttrick William Heath Joseph Warren	Francis Smith John Pitcairn Walter Laurie Hugh Percy
Strength
Lexington: 77[1][2] Concord: 400[3] End of Battle: 3,800[1]	Departing Boston 700[4] Lexington: 400[5] Concord: 100[6] End of Battle: 1,500[7]
Casualties and losses
49 killed, 39 wounded, 5 missing[8]	73 killed, 174 wounded, 53 missing[8]

19 April 1943: 400-1000 resistance fighters began the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.  They managed to delay the Wermacht and Waffen SS for 27 days, proving to Poland, Europe, and the world that Jews were capable of fighting in their own defense.  Though doomed to failure by circumstance, their message was delivered.  Some resistance fighters survived the ghetto and immigrated to Israel after WWII.  Fittingly, the uprising began on the first night of Pesach (Passover). 

http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/resource/gallery/G1941WGU.htm

The battle sites at Lexington, Concord, and the Warsaw ghetto lead to demonstrations of the finest qualities of human kind. 

Sadly, other sites recall the absolute worst.

            1995 Oklahoma City OK: Timothy McVeigh chose to demonstrate his hatred of the United States government by blowing up the Murraw Federal Building in Oklahoma City.  There are many theories concerning this event that center around conspiracy theories, Christian identity and other militias claiming oppression.  The best place to look for explanations is the Southern Poverty Law Center.           http://www.splcenter.org/

            Tonight we will be celebrating with braised short ribs and garlic-roasted Brussels sprouts.