Oct. 26 Ceremony to Honor Gen. George Sears Greene
October 2002

WARWICK, R.I. — An Oct. 26 program that will include a parade, ceremony, displays, dinner and speaker will kick off renewed interest in honoring Gen. George Sears Greene and his gravesite.

In May The Civil War News reported on efforts by three men and three Web sites to do for the Greene family cemetery what officials and residents of Warwick seemed unable to do after a brief period of interest in the late 1990s. The trio were so frustrated by ongoing neglect of the Greene cemetery that reburial of Greene and his wife in Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery was suggested.

Cleanup of the cemetery will precede the Oct. 26 program at the Greene Homestead and cemetery. Activities will begin at 12:30 with a cannon salute to members and veterans of the armed forces. Reenactors, heritage groups, officials and representatives of the armed forces are invited. The parade will process at 1 p.m. to the small cemetery where the Sons of Union Veterans will conduct a Grand Army of the Republic memorial service. Its auxiliary will place a wreath.

After the program and salutes the program will adjourn to the Warwick Town Hall where Greene memorabilia will be displayed, there will be speakers and music.

The new nonprofit General George Seas Greene Memorial Fund will outline its plans for the cemetery and request donations. SUV Camp #11 has taken on future cleanup of the cemetery.
The program will then move to the Varnum Armory. Tickets are available for a post-ceremony buffet with a talk by Greene authority John D. Cox. He is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. His book Gettysburg, Culp's Hill, July 2, 1863 will be published in June.

Greene was a West Point graduate and engineer from Warwick who led the 3rd Brigade of New Yorkers on Culp’s Hill the second day at Gettysburg. Because he had ordered construction of breastworks earlier in the day his lone brigade successfully held off Confederate attacks and saved the Federal right flank. Greene, who was born in 1801 and lived till 1899, was one of the oldest field commanders in the war. One of his sons was executive officer on the Monitor.

Brian Guiot, a member of the Sons of Union Veterans and Captain in The Varnum Continentals, and Joan Greene Pierpont, the general’s great-granddaughter, are coordinators of the tribute program.

For information contact Edward H. Balfour, (401) 647-9165. Donations may be sent to the George Sears Greene Memorial Committee, 16 Foster Center Rd., Foster, RI 02825-1325.