Paul Revere arousing Hancock and Adams by Hy Hintermeister

Last week Heather Cox Richardson spoke at Boston’s Old North Church on the 250th anniversary of the lighting of lanterns in the church’s steeple to warn colonial patriots of British troop movements.

With our democracy under direct attack by our own government, her remarks felt especially urgent. She noted that events like Paul Revere’s ride and the lantern signal were bold acts by ordinary citizens risking everything for liberty.

She emphasized that British policies and military occupation were seen as rights violations, sparking organized resistance. Small, courageous acts—like spreading the alarm—mobilized communities and changed history. It was effective communication and cooperation that enabled swift, collective action among the Patriots.

She emphasized that the courage to defend democratic principles, even in the face of danger, can inspire future generations and leave a lasting legacy. She didn't need to name the parallels to the present.

"Colonists naturally began to grasp that the exercise of power was not the province of a divinely ordained leader, but something temporary that depended on local residents’ willingness to support the men who were exercising that power."

"...Someone asked me once if the men who hung the lanterns in the tower knew what they were doing. She meant, did they know that by that act they would begin the steps to a war that would create a new nation and change the world.

The answer is no. None of us knows what the future will deliver."

SPEECH TRANSCRIPT: On the Lighting of the Lanterns in Boston’s Old North Church 250 Years Ago