A ceremony will rededicate the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot of the American Revolution at Fort Laurens in Bolivar on June 27, highlighting a broader effort to restore Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort, according to a community announcement.
The Ohio History Connection and the Zoar Community Association plan the public event at the historic site, where an unidentified soldier and 22 other American troops from the fort’s operation between 1778 and 1779 are buried.
Honoring soldiers at Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort
The Tomb of the Unknown Patriot memorializes a group of soldiers tied to Fort Laurens, the state’s sole Revolutionary War-era fort. The rededication marks an update to the site’s existing memorial and an effort to ensure continued recognition of those buried there.
“Fort Laurens is the site of Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort, and it honors American soldiers buried there through the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot of the American Revolution,” said Megan Wood, executive director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. “Ohio did not become a state until 1803, so we have few preserved ties to the American Revolution and the founding of our country. That’s why a reimagined Fort Laurens is such a transformative project that will benefit generations of Ohioans to come.”
Part of long-term renovation and archaeology effort
The rededication coincides with a multi-year renovation project scheduled through 2028 at Fort Laurens. Planned improvements include a new monument for the tomb, masonry repairs, updated landscaping, museum upgrades and partial reconstruction of the fort’s stockade wall, according to the announcement…