Communiqué du MDFDE :
Update: Projet MDFDE/Paris-NYC16 #MDFDEJeSuisLadyLiberty130 à l’occasion du 130ème Anniversaire de la Statue de la Liberté et le 100ème Anniversaire du National Park Service (NPS) les 26-27-28 octobre 2016 à Paris et New York honorant la mémoire des victimes du terrorisme aux États-Unis et en France. E.J.
Chers membres du MDFDE, chers amis internautes,
Émue aux larmes, j’ai l’honneur de vous informer de la présence et participation de mon ami le Comte Gilbert de Pusy LA FAYETTE, direct descendant de notre légendaire Marquis de La Fayette, accompagné par son fils Alexandre (voir message ci-dessous), à nos célébrations et commémorations du 130ème Anniversaire de la Statue de la Liberté à New York le mois prochain.
LA FAYETTE est (presque) là, AMERICA! A très vite pour plus d’infos !
Fidèlement vôtre,
Elisabeth Jenssen
Message du 13 septembre 2016
From: Gilbert de Pusy La Fayette
To: Elisabeth Jenssen
Chère Elisabeth,
Merci pour votre invitation pour les 130 ans de la Statue de la Liberte à laquelle je serai présent avec mon fils Alexandre. Nous serons présents à New York les 26-27 et 28 Octobre au sein de « the French-American Committee for the Statue of Liberty » présidé en 1986 par mon oncle Michel de Rochambeau décédé et aujourd’hui dirigé par Monsieur Philippe Stalins, vice Président à l’époque. J’ai moi-même participé en 1986 à New York au Centenaire de la Statue de la Liberté au sein de ce Comité. Pouvez-vous m’envoyer le programme de ces 3 journées commémoratives. En vous remerciant pour votre attention et en vous souhaitant un grand succès à votre projet ; veuillez croire , Chère Elisabeth, en l’expression de mes meilleurs sentiments. A bientôt.
Gilbert de Pusy La Fayette
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Les marins de Louis XVI célébrés au cénotaphe
Plougonvelin – Publié le
C’est en présence du descendant direct du célèbre marquis de La Fayette, Gilbert de Pusy-La Fayette, qu’a été dévoilée, samedi matin, au cénotaphe, face à l’ouest et à l’Amérique, la plaque du souvenir relative aux marins français morts pour l’indépendance américaine.
« Vous représentez les familles de tous ceux qui ont contribué à l’indépendance américaine, saluait Pierre Léaustic, président d’Aux Marins. Et à titre personnel, vous continuez à perpétuer le souvenir de ces soldats et marins qui ont combattu pour créer cette grande nation américaine. »
Le comte aux lointaines origines bretonnes, présent avec son fil Alexandre, a souligné son émotion en découvrant le cénotaphe. « Je suis impressionné et admiratif de ce travail de mémoire, effectué par l’association Aux Marins », s’est-il enthousiasmé, bien décidé à « faire connaître l’existence de ce mémorial partout dans le monde et notamment aux États-Unis. »
Insistant sur le rôle décisif des marins français lors de la guerre d’indépendance américaine, il a ajouté durant le salon La Mer en Livres, dont il était le président d’honneur, que c’était bien « la seule période de l’histoire où la Marine française avait dominé la Marine anglaise ! »
Localisation géographique et adresses
Où sommes-nous ?
GPS : 48°19’50.29 » N – 4°46’23.05 » O
Adresse postale : Association « Aux Marins »
BP 4 29217 PLOUGONVELIN
Adresse de la permanence : 9 rue Pen ar Bed
29217 PLOUGONVELIN
Siège : Mairie – Rue des Martyrs
29217 PLOUGONVELIN
Mail : assauxmarins@orange.fr
Tél : 02 98 38 07 79 – 09 75 85 52 59
http://www.amedenosmarins.fr/
http://auxmarins.net/accueil
La Pérouse à Maui, Hawaii, mon autre héros, avec La Fayette, de la Guerre d’Indépendance américaine, mort pour la France, la Royale (de nos jours la Marine nationale) et la recherche scientifique en 1788 à Vanikoro (Iles Solomon) lors de sa tragique Expédition du Pacifique (1785-1788) pour compléter les Trois Voyages et Découvertes du Capitaine britannique James Cook au Pacifique. E.J.
Count de Lafayette comes to Scituate
Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, came from his native France for a visit to America in 1824.This would be the last time the marquis, a celebrated hero of both the American and French Revolutions, and a friend and confidante of George Washington, would set foot in the country he had helped to win its independence.
Nearly two centuries later, the marquis’ direct descendant, Count Gilbert de Pusy LaFayette, would visit the United States, stopping off in Scituate on July 16 to visit some historic sites and points of interest.
“He is a friend of mine and was my guest in Scituate,” Scituate resident David Noonan said.
Madame Michele Miranthe Vlahos hosted the Count and his son.
Accompanied by several relatives, including his son, Alexandre, the Count arrived at the Greenbush train station from Boston. His trip to Boston was in conjunction with L’Hermione, a replica of the 18th century ship that brought the Marquis de Lafayette, General Lafayette, to America where he aided the rebels in the American Revolution. The ship has traveled along the eastern seaboard, anchoring at several key ports with much fanfare.
“We went to Betty Foster’s house in the harbor,” Noonan said of the Count’s visit to town. “Her family is one of the oldest families in Scituate.”
The Count’s late mother was a hereditary member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Noonan said. Foster is vice regent for the DAR in Scituate, and several other members were present at her home to greet the Count.
He insisted on having his picture taken with an old etching of Abraham Lincoln, Noonan said.
“He was wonderful,” Foster said. “He was charming. He was interested in an old house. He was interested in a French book. He was delightful and I enjoyed his visit to no end.”
The group went across the street to the Lucky Finn Café where they could look out at the schooner, the Lucky Finn.
“When the Marquis made his great tour of America in 1824 four shipbuilders from Scituate built a schooner and launched it at Scituate Harbor and named it in his honor,” Noonan said. “So to see a schooner in Scituate Harbor was a connection as well.”
Following a private lunch at the Mill Wharf Restaurant, the Count and his party stopped at the Chief Justice Cushing monument at the Route 3A rotary.
“He got out and took a look at it, took pictures,” Noonan said. “His ancestor, Lafayette, and Cushing were friends. So there is another tie to Scituate.”
At Lawson Common, the Count laid a wreath at the World War I memorial.
“There were four boys from Scituate who died in World War I and we thought it would be a nice thing for him to do,” Noonan said. “When he travels to different places he often places wreaths on memorials as a tribute. This was a tribute to the town and to the boys who died from Scituate.”
A group of well-wishers, along with members of the Scituate Historical Society, were on hand to welcome the Count at the Common.
“The count is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) through his blood line,” said Jack Manning, a member of the SAR. “His ancestor fought for America in the Revolution. I think it’s awesome he could come to our little town.”
Manning donned a historic American Revolution uniform to meet the count.
“I think it’s a great thing,” said Tony Vegnani, chairmen of the Scituate Board of Selectmen. “I know he’s had a busy week. It will be nice for him to look at the carriage and make this presentation. It has a lot of meaning for the town.”
In 1919, the Lafayette carriage was donated to the Scituate Historical Society, Society president David Ball said.
“The Marquis de Lafayette rode in the carriage when he was in Philadelphia on his extended visit to the United States in 1824-1825,” Ball said. “The carriage was last used by the Society when it was in Scituate’s 350th anniversary parade in 1986.”
Town Meeting in April approved Community Preservation funding to have the carriage restored, which Ball said should begin later this year.
The Count went across the street to the Cudworth House and barn where the Scituate Historical Society held a reception in his honor, and where he saw the Lafayette Carriage.
“He was fascinated,” Noonan said. “He then spent more time in the barn looking at other interesting things.”
Ron Swan, chairman of the Cudworth House, said the Count “is a very nice man.”
“A lot of people don’t realize how important the Marquis de Lafayette was to the American Revolution,” Swan said. “He helped get finances from France to support the Revolution. He fought in battle, and was actually wounded.”
Joan Powers, a member of the DAR, said she thought it was a great opportunity for Scituate “to have someone directly related to Lafayette to lay a wreath at the memorial.”
“I think it’s a benefit for the town,” she said. “And a great historical significance.”
Noonan was “very pleased” with the Count’s visit to Scituate.
“It was his last day in the United States,” he said. “We kept things low key. He was not here on a state visit, this was a private visit, and I think it went very well and was very nice.”
The count was very impressed, Noonan said, with the police officers that escorted the group around town.
“They let him look at all the technology they have in their vehicles and he was very impressed by that,” he said. “He was also very pleased that the chairman of the board of selectmen had come out to meet him. He found Scituate to be lovely, and he loved meeting the people.”
The Cudworth House and Barn, as well as other historical sites in town, will be open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. during Heritage Days, Aug. 8 and 9, for those who would like to view the La Fayette Carriage before it is sent off for restoration.
Follow reporter Ruth Thompson on Twitter @scituateruth
Link/Photos: http://scituate.wickedlocal.com/article/20150723/NEWS/150728576
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French-American Committee for the Statue of Liberty
1881-1901
- Creator
- American Committee of the Statue of Liberty
- Call number
- MssCol 69
- Physical description
- .3 linear feet (1 box)
- Language
- Correspondence in French and English
- Preferred Citation
- American Committee of the Statue of Liberty correspondence, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Manuscripts and Archives Division
- Access to materials
- Advance notice required. Request access to this collection.
The American Committee of the Statue of Liberty was an ad hoc organization formed to raise financial support for the siting and erection in New York harbor of Auguste Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World. Bartholdi gave Richard Butler, secretary of the Committee, power of attorney in the United States to handle his affairs regarding the statue. Collection consists of letters, chiefly from Bartholdi to Butler, relating to the design, construction, and financing of the statue and its pedestal. Bartholdi’s letters up to 1885 are in French, and thereafter mostly in English. Other correspondents include Joseph Pulitzer, editor of the New York World; Levi P. Morton, Governor of New York State, who accepted the statue on behalf of the people of the United States; Senator William H. Evarts, chairman of the Committee; and Henry F. Spaulding, treasurer of the Committee.