An address at the Prince Hall Cemetery Memorial Day 2000 delivered by
   James Gibbons

On behalf of the Arlington Historical Society, I would like to welcome Masons, residents, friends, and guests to the Prince Hall Cemetery. Last year when I addressed you, I urged you to study your history, to teach your history and appreciate your own contributions to history. 
I realized that many of you may not have been familiar with the history of Arlington. It was also apparent to me that many of you and I, had something in common. It is called by different names, being a senior citizen, a golden ager or - just plain old. 
Well - in 1775, there was a resident of the village of Menotomy now called Arlington who met the requirement for such a designation, since he had accumulated 80 years of wisdom and experience. He was not young enough to be a Minuteman - they were 16 to 65 years old, nor was he young enough to be “present when the” old men" of Menotomy captured a wagon of supplies from the British reinforcement on their way to Lexington. 
But when the retreating angry British regulars with their reinforcements came back through Menotomy burning and looting the homes of his fellow citizens and killing the inhabitants, Samuel Whittemore took his stand. Arming himself with his musket, two pistols and a saber, he killed three British regulars before he himself was shot and bayonetted 13 times and left for dead. 
After the British were gone, the towns people returned to the village to tend to the wounded and dying. Dr. Peter Tufts, of Medford, was brought to Samuel, but he left him to take care of others who might still be saved. After all the others were cared for he returned to Samuel Whittemore to bind him up and make him as comfortable as possible. But Samuel surprised them all by living 16 more years before dying at the age of 96.
So - let us take heart from Samuel Whittemore that age, others may perceive in us, is no barrier to accomplishing great things and let us continue to resist those who do not understand.