(2/27) Of all the accomplishments of the town of Walkersville, its commitment to service has stood out since its founding. Residents are known for uplifting local businesses, leading non-profit efforts, and particularly for supporting members of the military through numerous annual fundraisers and events. A veteran of the United States Army, Henry Lee Warren has lived in Walkersville for over 35 years with his family, yet his many accomplishments often go unrecognized.
Warren grew up in Mount Olive, North Carolina with eight siblings, his mother Beulah, and his father Edward, who was a farm sharer until 1955. From a young age, he was committed to service, helping to harvest his family’s crop and remaining active in his local church.
It was through church that he met his wife of nearly 60 years, Janice. With both having a strong interest in singing, they participated in the church’s junior choir together as well as their high school Glee Club. After Warren’s graduation in 1960, it would be four years before they reconnected. The couple was married in November 1965 and raised two children together.
With a demanding job in the armed forces, Warren recounts his wife’s constant support of him and their family. "She and I have always had a good working relationship," Warren says. "I don’t think anything better could’ve happened to me."
Warren was drafted into the army in 1962 and enlisted two years later, and would remain there for 30 years until 1992. Prior to enlisting, he worked at a car wash in Philadelphia and then as a custodian and aide at Nassau Hospital while living in Jamaica Queens, New York. Just before his marriage to Janice in 1965, he had been deployed to Santo Domingo in the wake of the Dominican Civil War. After this, he would continue to travel as part of his job, serving in Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and Germany as well as several stateside forts.
Warren held a number of positions in the army, including squad leader, section chief, communications operations chief, drugs and alcohol counselor, and Sergeant Major. He was also an avid basketball player, having played throughout high school. "I had offers out of high school to become a professional basketball player, but it was hard to get scholarships," said Warren.
Instead, he played in the army at both company and base levels, practicing at least three days out of the week and playing other bases on weekends. "In Korea, I remember scoring 39 points in one game," he recalled. "In another, we were down one point with five seconds left and I scored to win the game."
Later, Warren’s passion for athletics would also lead him to start running competitively, proudly placing 741st out of over 5,000 runners in the 7th Annual Army Ten Miler in 1991. And while he was stationed in Europe, it also opened up opportunities for him to participate in a sports commercial.
Warren fondly recalls much of the time he spent in Europe, both while he worked and during leisure periods. "I really enjoyed meeting with different people and interfacing with them, and just experiencing different life, different customs," said Warren.
While he cites the camaraderie of military colleagues as a positive memory while on base, Warren made sure to make the most of his time off as well, visiting Paris and the Eiffel Tower, Greece’s Acropolis, and Holland with its extensive flora and fauna. In Germany, he attended Oktoberfest as well as the famed New Year’s Eve display at the Heidelberg castle.
Warren and his family moved to Walkersville in 1987 due to duty assignments at Fort Detrick and Fort Ritchie. Over the next few years, he continued to pursue responsibility and passion both on and off duty. In 1990, Warren was awarded a trophy for Best Speaker in a Mason-Dixon Toastmasters competition, an honor for anyone but particularly for someone who had spent much of his life in the communications field. In addition, he also refereed for basketball and volleyball at military installations.
After retiring from the armed forces in 1992, Warren remained in Walkersville. He worked in civil service for 16 years as a telecommunications specialist and a youth counselor for several months, and afterward chose to retire to a more quiet life in his home.
Having lived in Walkersville for several decades, he has witnessed some of the exponential change and growth of the area over time. "When we moved here, there were only four houses in this development and the road was unpaved," Warren says. "But I like the growth and we have very nice neighbors. It's convenient being located to so many necessities."
Over the years, Warren has continued to travel with his wife to destinations including Canada and Las Vegas, where he particularly remembers the many festivities and shows they attended. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic putting a halt to all of these travels in 2020, Warren has shifted his focus to more relaxing activities, spending much of his time exercising and manicuring his lawn. He is also working on preparing binders detailing his life which he plans to give to his children. "I see my life in three phases," said Warren, "the first being from the time I was born until I went into the military, phase two being what happened in the military, and phase three the transition from military to civilian life."
Warren has much to share with his children about his many experiences before, during, and after his military service. Despite not having a clear picture of his future in his youth, he has since gained a vast array of knowledge and understanding which he can pass on to today’s young generations. In many of his positions, Warren has acted as a role model and a mentor, guiding others in how to improve, grow, and advance. "I’ve been the ‘parent’ of a lot of people," he says. "It’s been challenging, but good."
And now, Warren notes the extensive progress that has been made during his lifetime, creating many more opportunities for people of all ages and skills. "If you set goals, work hard, stay focused, and persevere, you can succeed," he advises. "Be yourself in whatever endeavors you pursue; just think before you leap."
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