“Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” Such begins the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Almost everyone has heard of Paul Revere’s famous ride, but few know that it was General Joseph Warren who sent Revere on that historic adventure that played such an important role in United States and world history.

Warren, the man after whom our county and city were named, was a Revolutionary War hero. As if that weren’t important enough, his resume goes much deeper. Born June 11, 1741, Joseph Warren enrolled at Harvard University at the tender age of 14 and became Boston’s youngest doctor at 22. He was involved in the aftermath of the Boston Massacre and even penned a song he titled “Free America.” Working with notables such as John Hancock and Samuel Adams, Warren quickly made a name for himself in politics and the military. Warren died on June 17, 1775, at the Battle of Bunker Hill, only three days after being appointed Major General.

There are three known statues of General Joseph Warren in the United States. Two are in Boston. The other is located on the corner of Third and Pennsylvania Avenues in our very own Warren, PA, situated in General Joseph Warren Park overlooking the Allegheny.

The Warren County Historical Society will hold a ceremony commemorating the history-altering life, death, and legacy of General Joseph Warren on Saturday, June 20, at 1 p.m. at General Joseph Warren Park.

The Daughters of the American Revolution will honor General Warren with a wreath presentation. Community members of all ages will enjoy Rich Geer and Maria Miller’s performance as they share their talents playing and singing “The Banner of Our Freedom,” a song written by Geer himself. Reenactors from the Storytellers Guild will be dressed in character and will bring the 18th century to current day. This event features Mark Davis as Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veteran John Andrews, Karin Davidson as Margaret Gage, Debby Hornburg as General Warren’s mother Mary Warren, and Jeff Johnson who will share a rhyming history. This special community event is a unique way to spend a Saturday afternoon that exudes an air of celebration and reverence. Refreshments will be provided by the DAR.

“So through the night rode Paul Revere; And so through the night went his cry of alarm to every Middlesex village and farm, — A cry of defiance, and not of fear…” A cry that was, in fact, set in motion by General Joseph Warren. For more information, call 723-1795, visit warrenhistory.org, or find the Warren County Historical Society on Facebook.