With pomp and ceremony, Weston’s ‘front seat to history’ honored

*Re-enactors march in the 250th-anniversary commemoration of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery in Cambridge on Feb. 28, 2026. (Nicole Mordecai/Weston Observer)*

Henry Knox came through Weston in the early days of 1776, pulling 60 tons of artillery toward Boston for Gen. George Washington. Farther along his route and 250 years later, the town was honored for its place in Revolutionary history.

Revolution 250, a nonprofit organization dedicated to commemorating the American Revolution, hosted an event Feb. 28 to honor four municipalities along Henry Knox’s route. Knox began in New York and carried artillery across frozen rivers and hundreds of miles to Boston, passing through Weston, Waltham, Watertown and Cambridge on his way to deliver the goods.

Last weekend’s procession began at Cambridge Common, led by Henry Knox, portrayed by Mike Audette. He held a ceremonial linstock, the pole used to fire a cannon. It was draped in ribbons representing the towns along the route.

Among the walkers was Linda Black, a former Weston resident, in a tricorn hat.

“It was wonderful. It was heavenly,” she said of the event.

Weston resident Nina Danforth and Linda Black, former resident, with a re-enactor at the 250th-anniversary commemoration of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery in Cambridge on Feb. 28, 2026. (Nicole Mordecai/Weston Observer)

Reenactors from the Acton Minutemen, two Clydesdales and musicians from Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie followed behind. The group marched through the streets toward the Cambridge Public Library.

The Fyfe and Drum Companie carried the music indoors, where Revolution 250 commemorated Weston, Cambridge, Waltham and Watertown with plaques honoring “one of many acts of service and sacrifice in the cause of independence.” Gov. Maura Healey also issued citations to the four communities.

Pam Fox, president of the Weston Historical Society, accepted the plaque on behalf of the town.

“Like the other ‘W’ towns here today, Weston is located on what we now call Boston Post Road, and for this reason, we had a front seat to history,” she said.

State Sen. Mike Barrett, Sheila Green of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Robert Allison of Suffolk University present a plaque to Pam Fox, president of Weston’s Historical Society, honoring Weston’s part in aiding Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery. (Nicole Mordecai/Weston Observer)

Fox relayed a number of historic visits paid in Weston in the early years of United States history, including soldiers passing through after the 1777 Battle of Saratoga and President George Washington’s overnight visit to the extinct Flag Tavern in 1789.

“This marker commemorates what, to me, is the most arduous and the most inspiring of all these events, Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery,” she said.

State Sen. Mike Barrett, who represents Weston and Waltham, also spoke about the importance of commemorating Knox’s route. He said he was glad to see these cities and towns receive recognition when other areas he serves, including Lexington and Concord, tend to be the only sites that are remembered in the story of the American Revolution. He hopes this year’s events will widen the understanding of who participated in American history.

“We always wanted to call out the heroines and the heroes who hadn’t been noticed, and the communities that hadn’t been either given their fair share of the glory taken together,” he said.

“All of those stories do reinforce our determination to stand firm today, when American values are under assault, sometimes by our own government in Washington … I want to pay tribute to all of you, not only for commemorating 250 years of American independence, but for insisting that we remain independent and true to everything our ancestors fought for.”