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Lexington unveiled a 250th commemorative arch. It did not go according to plan.
“Everyone will get a piece of the souvenir arch to take home,” quipped the event's host, “Saturday Night Live” alum and Lexington native Rachel Dratch.
In a scene reminiscent of a “Parks and Recreation” sight gag, Lexington unveiled a snazzy new arch Thursday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War’s start… only for the arch to topple almost immediately.
The calamitous reveal came as part of Lex250’s Patriots’ Day Awards Ceremony, and the arch in question was modeled after one erected in 1875 to welcome then-President Ulysses S. Grant to Lexington for the 100th anniversary festivities.
“It was a striking expression of civic pride and local ingenuity,” said Mona Roy, vice chair of the Lex250 Commission. She explained the latest incarnation is designed to light up incrementally for every 20,000 volunteer hours logged as part of Lexington’s “VO250” community volunteer initiative.
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However, Thursday’s unveiling got off to a rocky start due to technical difficulties, and the punches kept rolling. As volunteers slowly wheeled the arch forward across the stage, the crowd’s raucous cheers turned to gasps and groans as the top of the arch fell and broke into several pieces.
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“Don’t worry, completely fixable,” Roy reassured as both she and the stunned audience struggled to contain their laughter.
The event’s host, “Saturday Night Live” alum and Lexington native Rachel Dratch, also poked fun at the mishap.
“Everyone will get a piece of the souvenir arch to take home,” she quipped. “All according to plan.”
A spokesperson for Lex250 did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday regarding the arch’s current status. However, the ill-fated unveiling quickly sparked jokes and commentary on social media.
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“‘Don’t worry completely fixable’ [is] our new country motto,” one Reddit user wrote.
“The symbolism is unbelievable,” another Redditor commented.
The rest of Thursday’s ceremony seemed to run more smoothly, with Dratch hyping up her hometown and occasionally slipping into her over-the-top “Boston Teens” accent for comedic effect.
“I was thinking about, you know, all the things I love about Lexington,” she said. “And the first thing that I think of that you all probably take for granted is Lexington smells fantastic, OK? I mean, I’m living in New York surrounded by hot garbage.”
She reflected on her childhood in Lexington, also taking playful shots at a fellow “SNL” alum and Massachusetts native.
“Sometimes you’d venture to the mean streets of Burlington to hang out at the mall, where you’d run into people from the wrong side of the tracks,” Dratch joked. “I’m looking at you, Amy Poehler! I will fight you, Poehler, in the pahking lot.”
Watch the arch unveiling below via LexMedia:
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