Last updated: January 19, 2023
Article
Evacuation Day 2021
For over a hundred years the South Boston Citizen’s Association has sponsored the Evacuation Day Ceremony at Dorchester Heights - almost always on March 17.
For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of both the March 17 ceremony and the Evacuation Day Parade. We were very fortunate this year to be able to create and present a wonderful video for the people of South Boston and their love for Dorchester Heights.
- Duration:
- 7 minutes, 57 seconds
On March 17, 1776, occupying British forces evacuated Boston a little over a week after Continental soldiers seized the Heights of Dorchester, thus ending the Siege of Boston. This was the first major strategic and political victory for the Continental Army led by General George Washington. Join local Bostonians as they reflect on the importance of Dorchester Heights' place in history and what it still means today.
In order to produce the video, we edited down the speeches of our public officials. We wanted to make sure all of their remarks are preserved for this important day and we present them here.
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Charlie Baker, Massachusetts Governor
Watch Governor Baker's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 2 minutes, 33 seconds
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Marty Walsh, Mayor of Boston
Watch Mayor Walsh's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 1 minute, 7 seconds
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Nick Collins, Massachusetts State Senator, 1st Suffolk District
Watch State Senator Nick Collins' Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 1 minute, 48 seconds
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David Biele, State Representative, 4th Suffolk District
Watch State Representative David Biele's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 1 minute, 55 seconds
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Ed Flynn, City Councilor
Watch City Councilor Flynn's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 44.67 seconds
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Michael Flaherty, City Councilor, At-Large
Watch City Councilor, At Large, Michael Flaherty's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 1 minute, 26 seconds
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Bernie O'Donell, Chairman of Evacuation Day 2021
Watch Evacuation Day 2021 Chairman and previous President South Boston Citizens' Association Bernie O'Donell's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 2 minutes, 36 seconds
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Tommy McGrath, President of the South Boston Citizens' Association
Watch President of the South Boston Citizens' Association Tommy McGrath's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 1 minute, 23 seconds
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Robert Allison, PhD, Suffolk University
Watch Dr. Robert Allison's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 1 minute, 1 second
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Major General Gary W. Keefe, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard
Watch the Major General Keefe's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 2 minutes, 20 seconds
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Michael Creasey, Superintendent of the National Parks of Boston
Watch Superintendent Creasey's Evacuation Day statement for March 17, 2021.
- Duration:
- 4 minutes, 20 seconds