Celebrating Concord's Own: Upcoming Events on Local Heroes Benjamin Ralph Kimlau and Ellen Garrison

The Concord250 organization has planned several events for May and June to explore Concord's historical significance and its notable residents. On May 16, 2024, an event will focus on Benjamin Ralph Kimlau, a Chinese American aviator from Concord who served as a bomber pilot during World War II. Born in 1918, Kimlau's story is a significant part of American history. Lt. Col. Geoffrey Love, a historian with the Massachusetts National Guard, will lead the discussion. He will discuss Kimlau's contributions and the broader role of Asian Americans in the nation's history. The event is supported by Concord250, the Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives, and The Concord Free Public Library. It will also highlight the Benjamin Ralph Kimlau Memorial in New York City.

In June, the focus will shift to Ellen Garrison, a civil rights activist from Concord born in 1823. On June 8, 2024, the Umbrella Arts Center will show 'Ellen Garrison: Scenes from an Activist Life.' This film, produced by Five Sisters Productions and Tufts University, covers Garrison's life from her early participation in Concord's bicentennial parade to her post-Civil War activism and legal challenges against segregation. The screening is part of Concord250's efforts to celebrate Concord's role in the American Revolution and its historical figures. The event coincides with Garrison's 200th birthday and leads up to the semiquincentennial of the American Revolution in 2025. It aims to highlight Garrison's contributions to civil rights and draw connections with other key historical figures and movements.

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