Before Thanksgiving held its place as a national tradition, another day resonated with patriotic fervor: Evacuation Day. This forgotten holiday celebrated a pivotal moment – the final departure of British forces from American soil after the Revolutionary War.
On November 25, 1783, New York City witnessed the culmination of a long struggle. British troops, defeated and departing, even took the time to grease flagpoles to hinder the raising of the American flag. It was a symbolic act of defiance, quickly countered by the bravery of Sergeant John van Arsdale.
Van Arsdale, a veteran of the Revolution, ingeniously crafted cleats to scale the slick flagpole at Bennett Park. He triumphantly replaced the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes, a beacon of freedom visible across the city. The harbor echoed with a final, harmless salute from a departing British warship.
The day unfolded with a grand military procession led by none other than George Washington and New York Governor George Clinton. They marched down Broadway, greeted by jubilant crowds eager to embrace their hard-won independence. The energy was palpable, a collective exhale after years of conflict.
Celebrations continued at Fraunces Tavern, where Clinton hosted Washington for a “Farewell Toast.” This historic tavern, once a hub for Continental Army intelligence, became the symbolic heart of the new nation’s victory. Samuel Fraunces, the tavern owner, had quietly aided the American cause throughout the war.
Just days later, Washington announced his departure from the Army at Fraunces Tavern, surrounded by key figures like General Friedrich von Steuben. His words resonated with gratitude and hope for a prosperous future, a future built on the foundations of liberty and honor.
For decades, Evacuation Day surpassed even Independence Day in prominence. Schools closed, citizens reenacted van Arsdale’s daring climb, and lavish dinners were held at New York’s finest establishments. A grand parade, a precursor to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, annually filled the streets.
However, as the United States forged a strong alliance with Great Britain, particularly during the World Wars, the significance of celebrating the British evacuation began to fade. A former enemy became a crucial ally, shifting the national focus.
Yet, the spirit of Evacuation Day hasn’t been entirely extinguished. Sporadic flag-raisings at Bowling Green and commemorative processions from Fraunces Tavern to Evacuation Day Plaza serve as reminders of this vital chapter in American history.
The original Evacuation Day dinner at Fraunces Tavern featured thirteen toasts – one for each of the United States. These toasts weren’t merely celebratory; they were declarations of hope, gratitude, and a stern warning to any future aggressors. “May the remembrance of this day be a lesson to princes,” one toast proclaimed.
These toasts, preserved for posterity, are still recited today by the Sons of the American Revolution, ensuring that the memory of Evacuation Day – and the sacrifices made for American independence – endures.
