Lafayette, we are Here!
By Rep. Mike Moffett
“Lafayette, we are here.”
So said American army Colonel Charles Stanton in Paris on July 4, 1917, standing at the tomb of Gilbert du Motier—better known as the Marquis de Lafayette.
The Americans were in Paris as part of an advance World War I vanguard of Yankee doughboys. Over a million U.S. soldiers and Marines would soon be in France to turn the tide and bring victory to an allied coalition that was utterly spent and exhausted.
“We’ll be over. We’re coming over. And we won’t come back ‘til it’s over, over there!”
The people of France were thrilled so see the influx of all the motivated young Americans who gave them hope and eventually victory.
Stanton and company were at Lafayette’s grave that day to acknowledge a debt to a Frenchman who conversely had given a similarly exhausted American effort hope and eventually victory during our Revolution almost 250 years ago.
A wealthy young French nobleman, Lafayette was a romantic idealist captivated by the new American nation. His father had been killed in battle against the British and Lafayette requisitioned a ship to make his way to America.
In his current best-selling Revolutionary War tome, The Fate of the Day, Rick Atkinson describes the subsequent voyage thusly:
Night fell. The darkened boat beat on. His destiny lay west, over the horizon, where eventually his name would adorn some six hundred towns, counties, schools, mountains and other American landmarks. He had chosen to risk everything—for glory, for adventure, for an idea. Why not?
Lafayette made it to America and at the age of 20 became a Major General in our Continental Army. Wounded at Brandywine he quickly recovered and remained a favorite of George Washington until the triumphant end of the war, after the epic Yorktown victory in 1781.
After returning to France, Lafayette buffeted by the horrors of the French Revolution after 1789. He was imprisoned and would have been executed, but for the intercession of his American supporters. He eventually returned to favor.
In 1824 he accepted an invitation from President James Monroe to return to America, for a triumphant tour of every state to help celebrate the coming 50th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. By that time, every other American Revolution flag officer was dead, the last one being New Hampshire’s John Stark, who died in 1922 at the age of 94.
In June of 1825 Lafayette’s tour brought him to Concord, N.H. Accompanied by his son, Georges Washington, he was welcomed by passionate Granite State throngs similar to those that lined roads all over the country cheering his carriage’s journey from state to state.
Lafayette gave a wondrous speech at our new Representatives Hall—the very space in which our legislature still meets today. He went on to finish his tour and return to France, where he died in 1834.
On Sunday, June 22nd, the American Friends of Lafayette will be joined at our State House by renowned Lafayette reenactor Ben Goldman, who will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, just as the Marquis did in two centuries ago. He’ll be welcomed by our governor and legislative leaders before giving a reprise of Lafayette’s 1825 speech at the very spot in Representatives Hall where the original remarks occurred. This time the speech will be delivered in front of a huge painting of George Washington, whom Lafayette adored.
While I was not there in 1825, I will be in my Seat #23 in Representatives Hall Section 2 on Sunday to be part of a remarkable event that will connect us to our republic’s origins in a most profound way. And I already know what I’ll be thinking, as I sit and listen.
“Lafayette,
I am here.”
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State
Representative Mike Moffett (R-Loudon) is a former professor and retired Marine
Corps infantry officer. He chairs the House Committee on State-Federal
Relations and Veterans Affairs.
