RS: Remember Joseph Warren This Memorial Day
Warren had every reason to seek safety, being the widowed father of four, but instead sought the most dangerous location on the Bunker Hill field of battle and fought in the ranks until he ran out of ammunition, at which point he was shot in the head and his body hacked to pieces by redcoats with bayonets. His body was not discovered by his brothers until the following April, after the siege of Boston was raised, and identified by Revere by dental analysis.
Warren was hardly the only prominent American killed in our wars, but he was the first. A compelling and charismatic figure and still young, he might well have gone on to take his place alongside Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton and the other giants of American history. Yet his sacrifice was no more and no less than any other we commemorate this day: each gave all they had to give.