William Shippen was the first U.S. Marine to die in a land battle, the Princeton Battlefield Society said.
PRINCETON -- Nearly 239 years after Gen. George Washington led the Continental Army over British forces here, the Princeton Battlefield Society honored a Marine who died in the battle as part of their Veterans Day observance.
William Shippen was the first U.S. Marine to die in a land battle, the society said.
Shippen, who was a captain, as well as all who gave their lives in the American Revolution, were honored Wednesday with readings and remembrance at the Colonnade on the northern side of Princeton Battlefield State Park.
Society members read "I am an American," by Roy Johnson and "In Flanders Fields," by John McCrae and a portion of "Princeton," by Alfred Noyes.
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The Marine Corps League's color guard from Hamilton presented the colors.
At the end of the ceremony, the society held a special observance at a marker where 21 British and 15 American troops are believed to be buried in a mass grave following the battle.
The society was awarded a federal grant last year to undertake an archaeological study of the area, which is ongoing. The suspected mass grave is on a tract of land called the D'Ambrisi property, which officially became part of the park this year.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.