Arlington National Cemetery is well known for the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. A similar monument, containing the unknown remains of soldiers of the Revolutionary War sits quietly in downtown Rome, New York.

The memorial in Rome shares a surprising connection to the Tomb of the Unknowns. They were deigned by the same man, Lorimer Rich, who was from Camden. Rome's Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers of the Revolutionary War was dedicated in 1976 to coincide with America's Bicentennial. According to an Associated Press story from 1975, remains were discovered during renovation at Fort Stanwix and were interred under the 19-foot tall obelisk. The choice of the obelisk, similar to the nearby Oriskany Battlefield monument, is a symbol mean to draw a connection between the grave and the heavens.

As there were soldiers from other states who served at Fort Stanwix, the original plans for the monument called for it to be surrounded by stones from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.

There are a few other monuments to unknown soldiers of the Revolutionary War including one at Washington Square in Philadelphia.

Rome Tomb of Unknowns
Eric Meier/TSM
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