A Wreath Laying Ceremony in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., Commemorates French lives lost in the Cause of America's Freedom
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at noon, the Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, Inc., in conjunction with:
- The National Society of Colonial Dames in America, DC
- The Daughters of the Cincinnati
- The Sons of the Revolution
- The Alliance Francaise
- The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Association
- The Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America
held a wreath laying ceremony in tribute to French veterans who died during the Revolutionary War in America's fight for freedom. With an invocation by Reverend Canon Samuel Van Culin, the ceremony took place in Lafayette Square, in Washington, D.C., at the statues of French Revolutionary War heroes, General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette and Major General Comte Jean de Rochambeau. In the invocation, the Reverend Canon Samuel Van Culin, recalled to mind the often forgotten place of those in service with these words:
"Almighty God, let us recall with gratitude the sacrifice of all those who, coming from another land, gave their service and often their lives for the cause of freedom. We thank the nation of France for its aid in our time of adversity. Of all who fought, we call to remembrance, in particular, their heroic leaders, Rochambeau and Lafayette. They fought the good fight and finished the course….Amen."
Miles Young, President of Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, who has for the last 18 months championed the return to America of the newly built frigate, the Hermione, an authentic, hand-crafted and majestic reconstruction of the Tall Ship that brought Marquis de Lafayette to General George Washington with news of full French support for the cause of liberty in 1781, explained that the occasion of her return to Alexandria for public access on June 10th, 2015, seemed a fitting time to remember those French men who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.
He said: "We gather in Lafayette Square to celebrate the contribution of two gigantic heroes to the foundation of the United States of America."
In attendance were descendants of both the Rochambeau and Lafayette families, and French and American dignitaries including, M. Olivier Serot-Almeras, Consul General of France, Alexis Renault Sabloniere (descendant of Lafayette), Ambassador Craig Stapleton, and Mme. De Gouberville (descendant of Rochambeau).
For more information, please contact :
Deborah Berger, PR Consultant for Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America
[email protected]
Cell: 646-391-0352
SOURCE Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America
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