Press Release - June 26, 2006

George Washington, Revolutionary Army general and commander-in-chief and the first president of the United States, will visit Warwick July 29, the anniversary of the date in 1782 when Washington's entourage traveled through Warwick. A newspaper of the time said he was on his return from a meeting in Philadelphia with Count de Rochambeau "to join the main army on the Hudson."

Washington's return to Warwick this year could prove a nostalgic visit. He will be hosted at Baird Tavern where he stopped for refreshment in 1782. The general is returning to Warwick this summer at the invitation of the Historical Society for its annual George Washington Day Parade and Picnic.

While in Warwick, the former president may visit the upstairs bedroom at Francis Baird's establishment where his wife Martha stayed as she traveled the Newburgh-Pennsylvania route to be with her husband. The tavern's present owner, The Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, has named the room the Martha Washington Room in honor of the former first lady.

And although Washington will be a guest of the Society, he has been assigned some tasks: He will lead the parade, which starts at 2 pm at Baird Tavern and he will reminisce about his Warwick visits and other events during his public service at 7 pm at the Old School Baptist Meeting House. He will also be mixing with the crowd at 3 pm at a Lost Arts Festival and at a covered dish picnic at 6 pm. Both events will be in Lewis Park, where the day will end with Square Dancing under from 8 to 11 p.m. Washington is not expected to stay for the dancing; He has a stated preference for the minuet.

Actually Dean Malissa of the American Historical Theatre Workshop will play Washington, a role he assumes with such accuracy and professionalism that he is one of only two actors sanctioned by Mount Vernon to portray the first president.

Malissa has interpreted Washington at Mount Vernon, The White House Visitor Center, the Smithsonian and many other historical venues in the 13 original colonies and many of the other states. He has also been Washington for presentations on The Discovery Channel and CNN.

All the Parade and Picnic events on July 29 are free and to show the General a warm welcome, the Historical Society invites all the residents of Warwick and their friends to come. The Society aims to bring history alive for families and the Parade and Picnic are a way of doing that. Once an interest is sparked in Washington, it can be expanded for a visit to the Society's buildings which are open and offer free tours Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 pm during the summer.