Warwick's Revolutionary War heroes honored

WARWICK - It was difficult but they eventually found all the names. On Saturday, Dec. 2, the Town of Warwick unveiled a bronze plaque honoring the 435 Warwick-area citizens who participated in the War for Independence. Earlier this year Dr. Richard Hull, local historian and professor of history at New York University, argued that unlike the veterans of recent wars, there were no bronze plaques in Town Hall to honor Warwick’s Revolutionary War heroes. There were, however, plaques, which, rightly so, honor the veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and the Persian Gulf War. In a letter to the editor of The Warwick Advertiser, Hull wrote: “We remember them (veterans honored at Town Hall) for the sacrifices they made to uphold and preserve our democratic republic. But why haven’t we given similar homage to Warwick citizens who sacrificed to establish those very institutions and who gave us the independent republic we so cherish today?” Hull, author of several books on local history including “History of Warwick: 1696-1996,” then formed an ad hoc committee with several members of the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, namely Betty Hurd and Gary and Kathy Randall. The group immediately set about the task of uncovering the names of those who were members of Gen. John Hathorn’s 4th regiment. Hathorn, a military commander during the American Revolution, died in 1825 and is now buried in Warwick Cemetery. In World War II the United States liberty ship SS John Hathorn was named in his honor. After obtaining the list of names with the help of Mel Johnson, a curator at Washington’s Headquarters Historic Site in Newburgh, the committee enlisted various individuals and organizations, including students from the Warwick High School History Club, to raise the funds needed to cast the bronze plaque. Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton officially opened the ceremony outside the Town Hall. Troop 45 Boy Scouts formed the color guard and then the Warwick Valley High School Meistersingers sang the Pledge of Allegiance. Later, after moving indoors, they sang the National Anthem. Stuart Hollis, in a Militia uniform, fired a black powder musket salute. Before the official unveiling ceremony Hull, Gary Randall and Johnson spoke at length about the history of the Warwick Militia. Hurd welcomed all the guests and thanked the participants and donors for their support. Sue Gardner commented on the recent passing of longtime Warwick historian Florence Tate. The current and two past presidents of the Warwick Valley High School History Club performed the official unveiling. VFW Post 4662 Chaplain Clayton Eurich then offered a benediction. Those present or participating in the ceremony included town and village officials, descendents of the veterans named on the plaque, Troop 45 Boy Scouts, members of Warwick’s Lodge No. 544 of Free and Accepted Masons, the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, American Legion Post 214, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4662, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Warwick Valley High School History Club and the school’s Meistersingers, among others. “Should we ever forget the John Hathorns of America,” Hull said, “we will surely risk all the freedoms that we so fervently cherish and have worked so hard to achieve.”