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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Verbena High School’s new History Club is holding a candle fundraiser in remembrance of the 250th anniversary of the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The candle sale will honor the anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and the subsequent Battles of Lexington and Concord that took place on April 18-19, 1775, the first battles of the war.

David Michael Martin, a high school history teacher at VHS, is the sponsor of the school’s History Club, helped start it and has students from kindergarteners to seniors interested, as well as faculty and staff.

The VHS History Club is partnering with local beekeeper and candle maker Chilton Bee Company, located in Verbena, for the candle fundraiser. The candle fundraiser will go until March 20 to allow for candles to be custom made and delivered to buyers. Proceeds raised through the candle fundraiser will go towards establishing a history honor society at Verbena — Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, the only national organization for high school juniors and seniors that recognize excellence in the field of social studies.

The VHS History Club is asking people in the community to light candles on April 18 in remembrance of the famous nighttime ride and subsequent battles that started the American Revolutionary War. The club is also developing a Revolutionary War Celebration the week of April 17-18 that will feature educational activities related to the war.