The date of this week’s print edition coincides with the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous ride. The Boston silversmith — and perhaps the first person to practice forensic dentistry, a topic for another column — led the night-time ride to warn John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other patriots of the approaching British troops 91,250 nights ago this Friday. While Revere did not reach his intended destination of Concord, he and as many as 40 men on horseback did successfully spread word across Suffolk County that the British were indeed coming. The timely warning allowed the Minutemen to be prepared for resulting battles at Lexington and Concord, which marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

Next year the country will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence. This week, however, we remember the key event that led to this country’s fight for independence. Two Lights For Tomorrow is a nationwide initiative to commence the celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The famous ride of Paul Revere, et al, occurred April 18-19, 1775. The event uses the imagery of the two lights that shone from the tower of Christ Church 250 years ago as a uniting call for today’s citizens, regardless of who they are, to commemorate and remind everyone that history is about working together now to honor the past and build a better tomorrow.

Two Lights For Tomorrow is a call for private homes, municipal buildings, state houses and federal locations to display two lights, to remind everyone of the importance of joining together to form a more perfect union. A small but enthusiastic group of Newtown residents has taken the reins in coordinating Newtown’s efforts. By last week, the local efforts had collected promises from representatives of C.H. Booth Library, Edmond Town Hall, Newtown Community Center, Newtown Historical Society, and Newtown Meeting House to participate in Two Lights For Tomorrow on April 18. At least two private homeowners have also registered their intent to participate. This is just the first of many events that will occur through July 2026 to commemorate this country’s birth.

Ours is currently far from a united country. We can’t even send a group of women into space without it becoming a polarizing event. Earlier this month a series of demonstrations across this country, reportedly in more than 1,400 locations including Newtown, voiced opposition to multiple policies of the current administration. Rallies protested global tariffs, significant cuts to government agencies and the federal workforce, union rights, immigration rights and raids, rollbacks on LGBTQ+ and women’s rights; cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare funding and research; a growing authoritarianism; overreach in schools, libraries, veteran services, fair elections; abortion rights, and other concerns.

We have a long way to go before we can feel like a country whose residents stand together again. Our history is short compared to the rest of the globe, but 250 years ago brave men stood shoulder to shoulder and fought for our independence. We must remember the events that birthed this nation. In this era when many freedoms feel like they are being challenged, placing two lights outdoors for a few hours is a simple sign to acknowledge the past and look with hope toward a brighter future.