W3R-DE was represented at a moving memorial ceremony held September 23rd at Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery, honoring Revolutionary War soldiers whose remains rest together in a historic mass grave.
Among those remembered were 28 members of the Rhode Island Regiment who died of smallpox in Wilmington in 1781 and 1782 while returning north following the American victory at Yorktown. The grave also contains the remains of British soldiers who died in Wilmington after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777.
During the ceremony, a new permanent memorial was unveiled bearing the names of 33 soldiers who have been identified through historical research. Their names were read aloud as part of an observance that included military honors, prayers, music, and Revolutionary War reenactors. Among the Americans commemorated are 14 African American soldiers of the Rhode Island Regiment.
W3R-DE advocated for the commemoration while participating in the City of Wilmington’s 2026 celebration planning committee. The ceremony helped ensure that the soldiers who rested for generations without public recognition are now remembered by name and honored for their service and sacrifice during the American Revolution.
