Lex250 Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting of VO250 Arch to Inspire 250,000 Hours of Community Service 

Lex250 held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the VO250 Arch on Friday, May 16. The arch will highlight the number of community service hours completed by Lexington residents on the way to 250,000 hours by April 2026. (Photo Courtesy Lex250)

LEXINGTON — The Lex250 Commission is proud to celebrate the installation and ribbon-cutting of the VO250 Arch, a powerful new symbol of civic pride and community engagement.

Located on Massachusetts Avenue outside the Town Office Building, the Arch replaces the Countdown Calendar, which counted down the 365 days from April 19, 2024, to April 19, 2025, and highlighted hundreds of community groups ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington.

The 16-foot VO250 Arch, crowned by a majestic, sculpted eagle, is a replica of the arch the Town of Lexington created in 1875 to welcome President Ulysses S. Grant at the 100th anniversary Centennial celebration.

The new VO250 Arch will light up every time Lexington residents log another 20,000 hours of community service on their way to 250,000 combined hours by April 2026. The VO250 initiative (VO for Volunteer), which draws its name from the VO2 telephone exchange, once a vital connection point for Lexington, was announced during the Patriots’ Day Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 17.

“The name VO250 is inspired by the original telephone exchange,” said Lex250 Commission Vice Chair Mona Roy. “On a landline phone, VO stands for 86. This is a really important connection because we didn’t pick that name, we didn’t pick that exchange, the phone company picked Lexington to have the exchange of VO, which tells you that everyone knew Lexington runs on volunteers.”

Select Board Chair Douglas Lucente, a Lex250 Commission member, saw a photo of the 1875 arch several months ago and knew Lexington had to bring it back. 

Lucente contacted his brother-in-law, carpenter Eric Campbell, who brought the idea to life. Building and painting the arch took about five weeks.

Lexington resident John Flanagan created the eagle, and Christopher O’Neill was instrumental in helping to construct the arch at its new outdoor home.

The VO250 initiative invites all residents — individuals, schools, families, businesses, and organizations — to join a shared effort that reflects Lexington’s revolutionary spirit. Volunteer hours can be logged at Lex250.org, and residents can also find volunteer opportunities.

The initiative is being led by resident Sara Bothwell Allen, Roy and Lucente.

“This arch is more than just a structure — it’s a powerful symbol of Lexington’s spirit of service,” Lucente said. “Each hour tracked as part of VO250 represents a neighbor helping a neighbor, a young person stepping up, or a resident giving back. It stands as a testament to the strength of our community and the value we place on civic pride, connection and contribution.”

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Select Board Chair Douglas Lucente, center, introduces the artists and people who made the VO250 Arch possible — from left, Christopher O’Neill, Eric Campbell and John Flanagan. (Photo Courtesy Lex250)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning, May 16, for the VO250 Arch in Lexington. (Photo Courtesy Lex250)

Attendees pose for a group photo at Friday morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the VO250 Arch. (Photo Courtesy Lex250)

The new VO250 Arch, which replaces the Countdown Calendar. (Photo Courtesy Lex250)