Though I no longer get home on a monthly basis, I still do my best to visit Warren, Ohio as consistently as possible.  

One of my highlights; Looking through the stack of local newspaper articles that my mother has so graciously clipped for me… Though typically consisting of marriage and birth announcements of prior classmates, every now and then I find myself viewing something completely unexpected….  Though I wholeheartedly admit that I was more shocked to see an article on the city of Warren’s creation of the World’s Largest Drumstick than I had ever been to read about the divorce or arrest of a prior childhood acquaintance. 

Considering that I scour the U.S. in search of the World’s Largest Attractions, (Click HERE and HERE) learning that one was being built and would soon be displayed in my hometown was beyond words….

In 2009, the city of Warren dedicated an alley to our hometown hero Dave Grohl. The Foo Fighters frontman and prior drummer of Nirvana shocked residents by showing up to the dedication ceremony… something that surprised even the most optimistic residents…. So to learn that the city was at it again, building the world’s largest drumsticks in his honor, was a completely unexpected and amazing surprise….

*Photos of Dave Grohl Alley (and my mom) below!

From that weekend on, phone calls to my mother went something like this…

“Hi Mom!” I’d say… “Any update on the drumstick?” 

And after weeks of nothing….you can imagine my horror when my mother called to tell me the finalized date of the drumstick dedication ceremony.  A date that yet again conflicted with yet another out of town wedding…..

Why… why… why…. disappointment, sadness, anger….

The wedding came and went and I got over the sadness….But I was so incredibly  happy to finally have a free weekend that allowed me to get to Warren to view the newest tourist attraction….

Accompanied by my mother and my iPhone, we drove the short distance to the Warren Amphitheater and saw the drumstucks displayed horizontally across the amphitheater stage..   (The drumsticks will be moved to their  permanent residency on Dave Grohl Alley later this year.)  Weighing in at approx 900 lbs a piece, each drumstick was beautifully sculpted and overall impressive.  

Absolutely amazing idea city of Warren!….. 

But the surprises did not stop there!  What did I find lying in my newspaper clippings this time around…. a full page Tribune Chronicle ad purchased by Grohl…

In the ad… a “Made in Warren” T-Shirt wearing Grohl thanking the community for Dave Grohl Alley, the World’s Largest Drumsticks and ongoing support and admiration. 

What a humble and amazing guy you are Dave Grohl!  And, You’re welcome.

In addition to thanks offered by Grohl.. I myself would like to extend a big “Thank You” to the Warren man with these amazing Dave Grohl Visions…Police Sgt. Joe O’Graddy…

I don’t know you Officer O’Graddy but I sure hope to…Your visions have become reality and that has garnered our little city with national recognition. An amazing accomplishment indeed! …….. I can see us taking cross country journey’s together real soon…