Friday was Evacuation Day, and as we have learned in previous History Lessons, Southie’s Dorchester Heights provided a pivotal strategic location to General George Washington and his troops during the Revolutionary War. Land which helped to drive the British out of Boston and ended the Siege of Boston.

As a community and a city, we celebrate every March 17th up at the Heights and this year was no exception! The crowd was large, the speeches were short, and there was a MAJOR announcement made by Gay Vietzke the regional Director of Interior Region One (of which Boston is a part of) of the National Park Service.

Dorchester Heights will be undergoing major renovation using $25 million dollars from the Great American Outdoors Act! Director Vietzke praised Southie’s own Congressman Stephen Lynch, and Senator Ed Markey as pivotal figures in securing this funding.  The goal is to fully restore the monument and the grounds around it! Yay!

The restoration is planned to take 18 months and the goal is to have it completed by the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026.

The ceremony was not without controversy though as anti-vax protesters showed up to protest Mayor Michelle Wu’s involvement. The protesters played drums and shouted things at the mayor in addition to Council President Ed Flynn and the President of the South Boston Citizens’ Association, Tom McGrath.  Mayor Wu did received a standing ovation after finishing her remarks.