Fort Laurens to rededicate Tomb of the Unknown Patriot
BOLIVAR – Fort Laurens on Saturday will rededicate its tribute to American soldiers who lost their lives defending Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort.
The rededication of the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday in honor of 23 soldiers who died at Fort Laurens between 1778 and 1779.
Neil Thomas with the Ohio History Connection says it is an important part of recent upgrades to the historic site. The enhancements include landscaping, masonry work and a new monument.
Tomb of the Unknown Patriot enhancements are part of a larger multi-million-dollar project that includes partial reconstruction of the Fort Laurens walls. The goal is to complete the work by the fort’s 250 anniversary in 1778.
To help guide the updates, Fort Laurens has been hosting public archaeology days, with the next one on July 11th. Those digs have already uncovered a fired musket ball and a French gun flint.
