On September 17, 2024, Constitution Day, Governor Healey officially kicked off the Massachusetts 250 campaign on the steps in front of the Massachusetts State House, across from the Boston Common.
Flanked by members of her cabinet, local elected officials, Paul Revere, and Spot – Boston Dynamics’ robotic dog – Governor Healey, a history maker in her own right as the first woman elected governor of the Commonwealth, proclaimed, “Just as we led America’s revolution, this state, Massachusetts, will lead this country in celebrating our great nation.”
Governor Healey added, “We’ll do that over the next two years by lifting and promoting the revolutionary greatness of every community in our state.”
The event featured tricorn hats, Paul Revere riding down Beacon Street on horseback warning attendees of the impending British arrival, and MA 250 branded Chuck Taylors from Converse, the iconic Boston-based footwear company.
Among those joining Governor Healey to unveil the statewide campaign was Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, who proclaimed, “We’re going to make sure everyone can be promoted, every small business can benefit, and every main street can feel the love as we tell these authentic stories.”
Yvonne Hao, Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development, informed everyone at the event about how important it will be to celebrate Team Massachusetts and why everyone should take pride in the Commonwealth’s revolutionary spirit.
Hao reflected upon her attendance at the Battle of Lexington reenactment, which she attended in April, noting that, “When you go and stand on the Lexington Green at 5:30 in the morning and you see the reenactment, and you see this very rag-tag small group of people standing together on this lawn, and then you see the British march in with their horse and their uniforms and their guns. It is quite remarkable to think about how courageous those folks were.”
The same tenor was echoed throughout the event: Massachusetts is where the American Revolution began, and revolutions have continued since.
As Governor Healey announced, the campaign will highlight the state’s rich history related to the American Revolution while shining a light on historic firsts in the state. This includes two notable firsts the Governor highlighted as the event came to a close: the first birth control pill was created in Worcester, and the first rocket using liquid fuel took flight in Auburn.
(Button that says “Relive the day” )
To follow the campaign and learn more about Massachusetts’ revolutionary history, please visit https://massachusetts250.org/ and follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
