The Hermione Returns to Boston, Commemorating Her First Port of Call in 1780, Where She Carried the Marquis de Lafayette and News of French Support for America's Cause

Boston Welcomes the 18th c. "Freedom Frigate" in a 2-Day Celebration of Historic Proportions and Cultural Programs Throughout the City on July 11 & 12

News provided by

Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, Inc.

Jul 10, 2015, 10:34 ET

NEW YORK, July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, Inc. (FOHLA), a non-profit educational and cultural organization, is sponsoring the historic return of the Hermione to Boston, as part of her U.S. summer tour up the eastern seaboard. The masterful, hand-crafted, recreation of the original tall ship which the Marquis de Lafayette sailed to Boston with news for General Washington of full French support for America's cause, will dock in Rowes Wharf.

The Hermione will sail into Boston Harbor (visible from Castle Island) accompanied by a fireboat between 7:30-8:30am. Boston's Mayor, Marty Walsh, will open festivities. The public is invited to a cornucopia of events taking place throughout the city including:

On Saturday, at 9:15am, a Grand Parade of Reenactors will begin from Faneuil Hall, with 50-75 reenactors leaving Faneuil Hall to march to Rowes Wharf and replicate the arrival of Lafayette in 1780. They will greet the Hermione in Boston Harbor. The parade includes French soldiers (Regiment Saintonge) and a French Admiral (played by Bill Rose) and several units that have volunteered to play American civilians (the 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons, the Lexington Minute Men, the Lincoln Minute Men, and individuals from Boston's reenactment community). The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts will march in modern uniforms. A fife and drum group (organized by Don Haffner) will provide the marching beat. The Captain of the Hermione, Yann Cariou, and Superintendent, Bruno Gravellier, will be escorted by bagpipers from Bagad Lann Bihoue to a welcoming ceremony. At 9:45, as they enter Rowes Wharf, a pealing of bells recreating those that greeted Lafayette and the Hermione in 1780, will sound.

Saturday Program

10:00am
The small welcoming ceremony by French and American dignitaries will take place before the boat is open to the public. Along with remarks by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, there will be welcoming remarks from Admiral James Stavridis US Navy and Honorary Chairman of FOHLA, Herve Blanche, Mayor of Rochefort, Fabien Fieschi, General Consul of France to Boston, and Miles Young, President of Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America.

12:00-3:00pm:
Public Tours of the Hermione
First come, first served. No reservations required.

12:00-7:00pm:
Traveling Exhibition and Community Heritage Village
Located on the Greenway across the street from Boston Harbor Hotel

Traveling Exhibit
A photographic panel display of Lafayette's role in the American Revolution and the Hermione's reconstruction.

Heritage Village Activities During the Day

Music
Band of Music: A Fife & Drum group in period costume, will perform on the Greenway stage and perform "troubadour style" near the wharf (11:15am, 12:45pm).

18th Century music: David Hildebrand of the Colonial Music Institute will perform. This stringed instrument concert will have vocal accompaniment (3:00-4:00pm).

Shipbuilding crafts demonstrations (12:00-4:00pm)
Ship Caulking - Making and applying caulking (demonstrated by shipbuilder Joe Chetwynd)

Trunneling - Assembling planks using wooden nails/rods (demonstrated by staff from the Essex Shipbuilding Museum)

Oar Assembly - Graham McKay of Lowell's Boat Shop demonstrates the construction of an oar on site.

Rope-making by the crew of the Hermione (at intervals throughout the day)

Other
Lafayette Reenactor Appearance on the Greenway (2:00-3:00pm)

Conversation with Hermione crewmember Adam Hodges LeClaire (12:00pm & 4:15pm)

Members of the Regiment Saintonge will portray French troops from the period and provide a "Guard" at the entry and exit of the gangplanks of the ship during public visit hours.

Other reenactors portraying civilians of the area will be present at various times daily.

Sunday Program

9:00am-4:00pm:
Public Tours of the Hermione
First come, first served. No reservations required.

9:00am-7:00pm:
Traveling Exhibition and Community Heritage Village
Located on the greenway across the street from Boston Harbor Hotel

Traveling Exhibit
A photographic panel display of Lafayette's role in the American Revolution and the Hermione's reconstruction.

Heritage Village Activities During the Day

Music/Dance
Youth Fife & Drum Group: the Middlesex County 4-H Fife & Drum Corps (10am, 12:15pm)

18th Century music: David Hildebrand of the Colonial Music Institute will perform. This stringed instrument concert will have vocal accompaniment (10:45am &3:00pm).

Three Sheets to the Wind: Sea Shanty music performed by Gloucester performers (1:00pm & 3:30pm)

18th Century Dance: Demonstration performed the Crown and Colony Baroque Dance group- 1:45-2:45pm (time TBC)

Shipbuilding crafts demonstrations (12-4:00pm)
Ship Caulking - Making and applying caulking (demonstrated by shipbuilder Joe Chetwynd)

Trunneling - Assembling planks using wooden nails/rods (demonstrated by staff from the Essex Shipbuilding Museum)

Oar Assembly - Graham McKay of Lowell's Boat Shop will demonstrate the construction of an oar on site (TBC)

Rope-making demonstration, by the crew of the Hermione (at intervals, time TBC)

Other
Lafayette Reenactor appearance on the Greenway (11:45am/4:15pm).

Hermione crewmember - Presented by Adam Hodges LeClaire (at intervals during the day)

Members of the Regiment Saintonge, which portrays French troops from the period, will provide a "Guard" at the entry and exit gangplanks of the ship during public visit hours.

Other reenactors portraying civilians of the area will be present at various times during the day.

Off Site Activities
Boston Athenaeum Exhibition (ongoing through September-Check website for times)

"Lafayette: American Icon," at the Norma Caldewood Gallery.

Movie Screening at Museum of Fine Arts: Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, is part of the 20th Annual Boston French Film Festival (1:00pm) and sponsored by Poitou Charentes

About the Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, Inc.
The Friends of Lafayette-Hermione in America, Inc., a non-profit group, supports the Hermione Voyage 2015 while she is in the United States by partnering with local heritage and nautical groups, students and teachers K-through-12, and many cultural organizations, museums and universities to provide a full program of exciting educational, musical, culinary and special events during summer 2015. For more information, please visit: www.Hermione2015.com.

Press: Deborah Berger, PUREpr&marketing, [email protected]

JUNE:	JULY:	See the Hermione
Yorktown, VA June 5-7	New York, NY July 1- 4	in a city near you
Mount Vernon, VA June 9	Greenport, NY July 6-7	Hermione Voyage 2015
Alexandria, VA June 10-12	Newport, RI July 8-9	Schedule of Tours & Events
Annapolis, MD June 16- 17	Boston, MA July 11-12	www.Hermione2015.com
Baltimore, MD June 19-21	Castine, ME July 14-15
Philadelphia, PA June 25-28	Lunenburg, Nova Scotia July 18