Views Named

Views Named…As a reminder, these were all the approximate views that someone saw just before a HUGE historic incident. How many views did you get?

View #1

If you had this view on the morning of April 19, 1775, you were probably in the colonial militia near Concord, Massachusetts. Furthermore, at the site of the obelisk, a group of British regulars were coming for you. The bridge is the Old North Bridge and of course, the view is of the “shot heard round the world”…the arguable start of the American Revolution.

I say “arguable” because the credit for the start of the American Revolution has been debated between Lexington and Concord for over 200 years. Several hours earlier in Lexington, the same group of British regulars ran into a rowdy group of colonists. The British opened fire on the colonists killing 8. The argument is that the Lexington event was not actually a “battle.” It was a disorganized skirmish or a massacre. There was no organized military resistance. As opposed to later that day, the Concord militia was gathered and waiting for the British. As the British attempted to cross the bridge, the militia leader gave the order…”For God’s safe, FIRE!” So, the Concord battle gets credit for the first military action, as well as the first retreat of the British.

But, the real reason the site gets credited with the start of the American Revolution is Ralph Waldo Emerson. Good ‘ol Ralph lived about a football field away from the Old North Bridge. In his famous writing, the “Concord Hymn,” he described the Concord battle. In the final line of the opening stanza, he coins the phrase…”and fired the shot heard round the world.” It was a popular hymn, so the phrase caught on. Therefore, Concord wins the argument.

View #2

On one hand, this view is merely from an elevated lawn overlooking Elm Street in Dallas, Texas. Well, that was the conclusion of the Warren Commission report on the Kennedy assassination. As you should know, the Warren Commission concluded that all 3 shots at Kennedy were from Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle positioned on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. However, there were many that thought all shots were not from Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle. Some evidence indicated that there may have been a second shooter. That shooter may have been positioned on the “grassy knoll,” much closer than Oswald’s position. The picture above is the view from the grassy knoll. The idiot in the street stands on the “X” where Oswald’s first bullet landed.

View #3

On September 11, 2001, at 10:03am EST, this was the view from the cockpit of United Airlines Flight 93. As you tragically know, the hijacked plane crashed in this field near Shanksville, PA, killing everyone on board. In the upper right corner of the picture, you can see the boulder that marks the exact spot of the crash. The entire field is walled off to prevent access to the crash site. This was done due for respect to the victims. As much of the human remains were unrecoverable, the field is one large cemetery. Each year, on September 11th, the family members of the victims are allowed on the field to pay respects to their loved ones. Visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial is a powerful and emotional experience. Never Forget!

Have a wonderful day. PT

I hope you have enjoyed “Views Named” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks.