After the grand ceremony for Lafayette at the College of William and Mary, we walked across the street to Colonial Williamsburg for the grand preparations to fete Lafayette.
PREPARATIONS
As we walked down Duke of Gloucester Street we saw the preparations grandly in place.
This sign marks the adoration and fervency of the many crowds who attended these events:
The
Nation’s Guest
in Commemoration
of the Magnanimus and Illustrious
Marquis de Lafayette
visit to
Williamsburg, Virginia
United States of North America
in Celebration of America’s Independence
PARADE
Marching from the capitol to the courthouse came the parade of dignitaries from American and France, Colonial Williamsburg, the city of Williamsburg, and the American Friends of Lafayette.
Then arrived Lafayette, portrayed by Colonial Williamsburg’s Mark Schneider.
MUSIC AND GREETINGS
Amidst greetings from some of the dignitaries there was music from the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps.
FLYOVER
While cannons blasted on the ground, another flyover (the first was in Yorktown the day before) regaled our sights to celebrate the French-American Alliance that brought victory at the Battle of Yorktown, securing American Independence.
These are two Dessault Rafales from the Lafayette Squadron of the French Air Force which then proceeded to fly over Washington DC, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s Grand Tour.
ANTHEMS
After the flyover, La Marseillise and The Star Spangled Banner was sung, followed by more music from the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps.
LAFAYETTE
Then Lafayette regaled the crowd with greetings and memories of his time in Virginia during the American Revolution.
After he arrived in American at the age of 19, he achieved a commission to the Continental Army as a major-general (without pay).
Instead of receiving pay, Lafayette gave to America in numerous ways.
At Valley Forge he began a practice of providing clothing and supplies to the men in his unit that wore tattered rags.
Meanwhile Lafayette formed an alliance with Native American’s, obtaining their support in the American Revolution.
All the while he wrote letters home to France, strategically sharing news and needs of the American forces, eventually arriving home for a year to continue to build support.
Before returning to America Lafayette secured France’s support financially, with supplies, and with manpower to bolster the American troops.
After his return to the Continental Army, Lafayette encouraged France to send a naval fleet to help conquer Britain.
During the 1781 Campaign, Lafayette and his light infantry sought the turncoat Benedict Arnold, but they achieved a bigger prize.
They cornered Cornwallis and his army in Yorktown, while Admiral de Grasse won the Battle of the Capes, which blocked rescue and escape of the British forces in Yorktown.
Meanwhile Generals Washington and Rochambeau marched with their troops from New York to Williamsburg to plan the siege of Yorktown.
Soon after the siege began, victory was secured by the French-American Alliance.
1824 VISIT
While visiting Williamsburg a few days in 1824, Lafayette stayed at the Peyton Randolph House and was feted at a banquet at Raleigh Tavern with Chief Justice Marshall.
After a few days in Williamsburg Lafayette’s entourage followed him to Jamestown before moving on to Portsmouth.
Thus within one week in 1824 Lafayette visited Yorktown-Williamsburg-Jamestown where he spent much of his 1781 Campaign…truly the Historic Triangle!
THEATER
After a finale with the Virginia State Garrison Regiment and the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps, we attended performance at the Kimball Theater for memories of Lafayette as shared by those who knew him well.
Testimonies came from Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Armistead Lafayette, James Madison, George Washington, and Martha Washington.
And of course, we heard from our favorite Frenchman, Lafayette!
Vive Lafayette!
