Pégase
03-27-2004, 12:29 PM
US Senators pay tribute to French hero of American Independence War
Sat Mar 20 PARIS (AFP) - Three United States senators made a bid to revive US-French relations -- scarred by the Iraq (news - web sites) war -- when they laid a wreath at the tomb of France's Marquis de Lafayette, saying he was "instrumental in America's Revolution to achieve freedom."
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US senator John Warner (C) and US ambassor to France Leach Howard (R) laid a wreath on the tombstone of French Marquis de Lafayette at the Picpus cemetery in Paris.(AFP/Joel Robine
"France became America's first military ally and remains today its longest serving ally," said Senator John Warner at the ceremony for Lafayette who led 6,000 Frenchmen over to America to help defeat the British in 1781.
Recalling Lafayette's words to General George Washington -- "France is with you" -- Warner quoted from a letter by Lafayette to his wife:
"The welfare of America is ultimately connected with the happiness of all mankind."
Warner, accompanied by Senators Ernest Hollings and Ted Stevens, noted that Lafayette was one of only six foreigners -- including Winston Churchill and Mother Teresa of Calcutta -- who had ever received honorary United States citizenship.
"With a deep sense of humility, we three United States Senators come today to lay a wreath at Lafayette's tomb as an expression of everlasting gratitude to this great patriot who was instrumental in America's Revolution to achieve freedom," Warner said.
He recalled that Lafayette had arrived in 1777, was given the American rank of major-general and "swiftly plunged into battle, standing with his idol, General George Washington."
Lafayette had then gone back to France to urge his people to lend their support, and had returned with 6,000 men and 15,000 muskets.
In 1781, Warner continued, Lafayette had participated in the final campaign against the British with General Rochambeau and a large French army in direct support of Washington's army at the Battle of Yorktown.
"The combined French land and naval forces enabled the Americans to defeat the British army on October 19, 1781," the senator concluded
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040320/capt.par10103201216.france_us_par101.jpg
From the left, U.S Ambassador to France Howard H. Leach, Senator Fritz Hollings (SC), Senator Ted Stevens (AK), Senator John Warner (VA) and France's Helie de Noailles, president of the American Revolution's Sons association, pay respect on the grave of the Marquis de Lafayette at the Picpus cemetery in Paris Saturday March 20, 2004. In 2002, a resolution of the United States Congress proclaimed Lafayette to be a citizen of the USA. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
well, let's hope the tumults about Iraq will be a day forgotten ...
Sat Mar 20 PARIS (AFP) - Three United States senators made a bid to revive US-French relations -- scarred by the Iraq (news - web sites) war -- when they laid a wreath at the tomb of France's Marquis de Lafayette, saying he was "instrumental in America's Revolution to achieve freedom."
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20040320/capt.sge.uvm78.200304205705.photo00.default-380x269.jpg
US senator John Warner (C) and US ambassor to France Leach Howard (R) laid a wreath on the tombstone of French Marquis de Lafayette at the Picpus cemetery in Paris.(AFP/Joel Robine
"France became America's first military ally and remains today its longest serving ally," said Senator John Warner at the ceremony for Lafayette who led 6,000 Frenchmen over to America to help defeat the British in 1781.
Recalling Lafayette's words to General George Washington -- "France is with you" -- Warner quoted from a letter by Lafayette to his wife:
"The welfare of America is ultimately connected with the happiness of all mankind."
Warner, accompanied by Senators Ernest Hollings and Ted Stevens, noted that Lafayette was one of only six foreigners -- including Winston Churchill and Mother Teresa of Calcutta -- who had ever received honorary United States citizenship.
"With a deep sense of humility, we three United States Senators come today to lay a wreath at Lafayette's tomb as an expression of everlasting gratitude to this great patriot who was instrumental in America's Revolution to achieve freedom," Warner said.
He recalled that Lafayette had arrived in 1777, was given the American rank of major-general and "swiftly plunged into battle, standing with his idol, General George Washington."
Lafayette had then gone back to France to urge his people to lend their support, and had returned with 6,000 men and 15,000 muskets.
In 1781, Warner continued, Lafayette had participated in the final campaign against the British with General Rochambeau and a large French army in direct support of Washington's army at the Battle of Yorktown.
"The combined French land and naval forces enabled the Americans to defeat the British army on October 19, 1781," the senator concluded
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040320/capt.par10103201216.france_us_par101.jpg
From the left, U.S Ambassador to France Howard H. Leach, Senator Fritz Hollings (SC), Senator Ted Stevens (AK), Senator John Warner (VA) and France's Helie de Noailles, president of the American Revolution's Sons association, pay respect on the grave of the Marquis de Lafayette at the Picpus cemetery in Paris Saturday March 20, 2004. In 2002, a resolution of the United States Congress proclaimed Lafayette to be a citizen of the USA. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
well, let's hope the tumults about Iraq will be a day forgotten ...