Here is an article about Massachusetts Lafayette Day 2023. And check out a short video about the day here.

Join us for Massachusetts Lafayette Day on May 19, 2022 beginning at 10:30 AM at the Lafayette Monument, followed on a luncheon and speaker at the French Consul’s Residence in Cambridge. For more information click HERE.

Massachusetts Lafayette Day, 2022

by Alan R. Hoffman

            For the first time in three years, the Massachusetts Lafayette Society was able to celebrate a live and complete Lafayette Day. It was the 88th such celebration since the Massachusetts Legislature passed a statute in 1935 requiring the governor to issue a proclamation each year on May 20, the anniversary of Lafayette’s death, declaring the day “Massachusetts Lafayette Day.” While Fayette County (Lexington) Kentucky is the oldest county named for Lafayette (1780), and Fayetteville, North Carolina is the oldest city or town (1783), Massachusetts has the honor of commemorating Lafayette on an annual basis for a longer time than any other US jurisdiction.

             The celebration on May 19 began at the Lafayette monument on the Boston Common. After a short welcoming speech by me entitled “What would Lafayette do?”, the Proclamation was read in French and English. The reader of the French Proclamation was Enoch (Woody) Woodhouse – Yale class of 1952 and a French major – who was decorated as a Tuskegee Airman for his service in World War II. Harvard Professor John Stauffer, our keynote speaker for the afternoon luncheon, read the Proclamation in English. The laying of the wreath by Consul General Arnaud Mentré and Lieutenant Colonel Woodhouse followed, and a moment of silence, just as the bells of a nearby church struck eleven times.

            Our group traveled across the Charles River to the residence of the French Consulate in Cambridge where we enjoyed a delicious lunch including a crab cake appetizer, a superb salmon dish, and an extraordinary chocolate dessert. We were joined by a number of MLS members who could not attend the Boston ceremony, including Marvin Gilmore, another nonagenarian veteran of World War II, who received the French Legion of Honor medal in Boston in 2010 when he was a sprightly 85 years old. He is still sprightly at 97.

             Professor Stauffer enthralled the audience with his lecture, “Lafayette, Charles Sumner and James McCune Smith.” John has graciously agreed to publish this speech in the next Gazette, so you will have an opportunity to read it in October. We also said a fond farewell to the Consul, who will complete his term in Boston in August.

            I can report that it was one of the most delightful Lafayette Days ever.

Click HERE to see pictures from Lafayette Day.

The Massachusetts Lafayette Society and the AFL Present:

"America's First Ally: France in the Revolutionary War"

On Massachusetts Lafayette Day, May 20, 2021 at 5:00pm, the Massachusetts Lafayette Society and the American Friends of Lafayette will present a lecture by Norman Desmarais, professor emeritus at Providence College.

The talk, entitled "America's First Ally: France in the Revolutionary War," the title of his 2019 publication, will focus on chapter one, which covers French covert aid to the insurgents before France officially went to war against Britain. 

Click here for a video of the ceremony.

Click here for photographs from the ceremony.

Dear Friend of Lafayette,

The plans for Massachusetts Lafayette Day have been finalized.

On May 20,2021, the Consul General and I will meet at the Lafayette Monument on the Boston Common at 12:00 noon.

A color guard provided by The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts will place the colors. After the pledge of allegiance, the Governor’s Proclamation will be read in English and French. The Consul General will lay the wreath.

We expect this short ceremony to be videoed and we will play it at our 5:00 p.m. Zoom Conference. After the video is played, our keynote speaker, Norman Desmarais will make his presentation.

You are welcome to attend the ceremony on the Common if you are in Boston on the 20th. Regardless, if you have not yet registered for our Zoom program, please use the link below

                                                       Best Regards,

                                                       Alan R. Hoffman
                                                       President   

The American Friends of Lafayette - The Massachusetts Lafayette Society and the AFL Present: (wildapricot.org)

On Sunday October 25, 2020, the MLS joined with Julien Icher and his Lafayette Trail project to attend the unveiling and dedication of a Lafayette Trail marker at a historic house in Bolton, MA.   Lafayette “slept here” on September 2, 1824, on his way from Boston to New York City. The home, the Wilder Mansion, belonged to S.V.S Wilder (just call me Sampson!) who was an international businessman who spent years in France.  While there, he befriended Lafayette.

A crowd of 25 attended, including eight MLS members. Representing the MLS and the American Friends of Lafayette, I made introductory remarks and then introduced Julien who talked about the Lafayette Trail project.  Notably, he announced that the Pomeroy Foundation, which pays for the markers, has approved funding for 175 Lafayette Trail markers!  

The weather was decent, albeit cool; and the event provided a respite from the humdrum existence most of us are consigned to during the pandemic.

Our great thanks to Paul and Dawn Tesini, the owners of the Wilder Mansion, for permitting the marker to be placed on their property and being our hosts for this event.  I would like to thank their son, Nick Tesini, and members David and Dorothea Jensen for providing photographs.  Finally, I would like to express our appreciation for the work that President Emeritus Bill Dunham did to facilitate the placement of a marker at the Wilder Mansion.  Bill, a direct descendant of Mr. Wilder, made the initial contact with the owners, and cultivated their interest in Lafayette and a marker, before introducing them to Julien.  

Click here for photographs of the event.

Join us for our annual Massachusetts Lafayette Day activities at the Boston Athenaeum, followed by laying a wreath at the Lafayette Monument on the Lafayette Mall, and then lunch at the Athenaeum with our guest speaker Providence College Professor Emeritus Norman Desmarais. He will present his recently published work, America’s First Ally: France in the Revolutionary War.

Sign up with the attached invitation.

Here is the Biography of the featured lunch speaker Professor Norman Desmarais.

Join us at the Boston Athenaeum and the Union Club. For information and reservations click here.

Click here to see photos from the event.

Join us for presentations about the Massachusetts Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, and a program sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution to support french children orphaned during WWI.  Click here for your invitation.

Consul General's Article about Massachusetts Lafayette Day 2017

     The Massachusetts Lafayette Society is partnering with New England Historic Genealogical Society [NEHGS] for an afternoon with "Lafayette." As noted in the NEHGS announcement available at the link below, you will get to see some first hand artifacts on Lafayette's Farewell Tour as well as to hear from Alan Hoffman, President MLS, and Deedy Jensen, author of a novel based on Lafayette's visit to a small New Hampshire town by General Lafayette while on this Tour.  See the following link for more information: http://shop.americanancestors.org/products/general-lafayette-s-farewell-tour

      This event will take place on Saturday, November 12th, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. and is expected to last until 3:30. Guests are welcome to stay after the event to explore their own genealogy - perhaps you have a Revolutionary War Soldier in your past who served with Lafayette? Now is your chance to explore your family history. Although there is no cost, the NEHGS prefers that persons RSVP directly to them. One can do this by following the instructions to the cart and beyond - it involves creating an account. In the alternative, you can register by calling NEHGS at 617 226 1226.

     NEHGS also has an event on Saturday, October 29th that they feel our members may be interested in attending. Please explore this link as well.  Saturday, October 29—a seminar on heraldry in America: http://shop.americanancestors.org/products/heraldry-in-america One lecture topic: French Heraldry and its Legacy in New England presented by Dr. Nicholas Vernot of  Académie Internationale d'Héraldique may be of special interest to some of our members.

On Friday March 18, 2016 at 2:00 PM, New Hampshire's Governor Maggie Hassan will issue a special proclamation recognizing the ongoing importance of French in New Hampshire.  This event will take place in the Governor's Council Chambers at the State House in Concord.

Special guests in attendance will be M. David Alward, Consul General, Consulate of Canada in Boston;  M. Valéry Freland, Consul General, Consulate of France in Boston; and Mme. Marie-Claude, Quebec Delegation in Boston.

This event is free and open to the public.  Please arrive at the Council chambers by 1:45 PM.

Join the Massachusetts Lafayette Society for Mr. Detwiller's wonderful presentation on Thursday March 17, 2016, at the Royall House, 15 George St., Medford, MA 02155.  Opening reception with light refreshments at 6:00 PM, followed by Mr. Detwiller's presentation at 7:00 PM.

RSVP to Alan Hoffman at arhoffman@lynchbrewr.com. Suggested donation: $5.00 for members, and $10.00 for non-members.

For more information click here.

The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Association (W3R®-US), The National Park Service (NPS)The Friends of the Longfellow House, and the Massachusetts Lafayette Society invite you to attend
“A Journey of Instruction” A lecture by Dr. Robert Selig. 
This is a discussion of General Rochambeau’s visit to Washington’s 1775-1776 and Lafayette’s route from Boston to Morristown, New Jersey in April of 1780 to inform Washington of the imminent arrival of the French Expeditionary Force under Rochambeau.
Click here to see more photographs.

The Lexington Historical Society and the Massachusetts Lafayette Society will host a wine and cheese reception and offer tours of the exhibition entitled “The Battle after the Battle”. Guest of Honor ~Fabien Fieschi - Consul Général of France. View flier here 
For an informative article about "The Battle after the Battle" click here

Finally, we will have our traditional Lafayette Day ceremonies, including the Union Club luncheon on Tuesday, May 20, the 190th anniversary of Lafayette’s death. View invitation here.

Click here to see photographs from the event.

On Saturday, May 17, at noon, we will be convening at the Kennedy Library for a luncheon and tour of the collection. We will be greeted by a curator who will also assist us when we tour the collection. Our chief focus will be installation of the Zuber wallpaper in the White House by Mrs. Kennedy. This fine example of French panoramic wallpaper received its impetus from Lafayette and his Farewell Tour of America. View invitation here 

On Friday, April 11, 2014, the Society partnered with the Franco-American Centre and Myriam Zuber’s organization, FAIRE, to celebrate Lafayette’s visit to Concord, NH in June 1825 after he helped lay the cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument. We had a good turnout from our members, especially in New Hampshire and North of Boston. See attached invitation here.

Click here to see photographs from the event.
 

* Peek into the BPL’s Archive of Lafayette-related material, including two abolitionist broadsides, as well as other important 
  treasurers from the early history of our republic.
* Brief history of the Library by Keeper of Special Collections Susan Glover. 
* Library tours by David Noonan, a long-time member of the society. 
  If you have questions, contact Alan Hoffman at   arhoffman@lynchbrewer.com

Massachusetts Lafayette Day, and the
The Cocktail Reception was held Sunday May 19th, 2013 . 
Invitation can be viewed here .

Click here to view more photographs from the event.

The Bowditch Institute and Salem Maritime National Historic Site Invite you to: French Visions of America in 1834 
Admission: Free (Registration Required, Space Limited. )
Salem Maritime National Site’s Visitor Center 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA (click for more information)

Description: From the time Jackie O installed them in the the White House to the Obama Administration, Zuber et Cie's "Views of North America" panoramic wallpaper, have inspired artistic and intercultural discourse. Join us to learn from three expert panelists about this exquisite scenic wallpaper. The collection of thirty-two, awe-inspiring panels depicts national landmarks, including Boston Harbor, West Point and Niagara falls. "Views of America" gives us unparalleled insight into how a pre-democratic France saw America's burgeoning democracy. The scholarly soirée will cover everything from the social, aesthetic and political to the French Idealization of early 19th-century America. Those in attendance will have the distinct pleasure of learning about the  Zuber et Cie wallpaper from Isabelle Dubois-Brinkmann the curator of the Musée du Papier Peint in Rixheim, Alsace, France. James A. Abbott, Curator of Johns Hopkins Evergreen Museum and author of Designing Camelot will present on how the Kennedy White House revitalized interest in these important works. Additionally, Joanna Gohmann, Doctoral Candidate in Art History at Chapel Hill, will present her findings from her thesis about the wallpaper's representation of French idealization of America democracy and racial integration.The guests will be invited to view a sampling of scaled-down replicas of these great works. 
JOIN EVENT ON FACEBOOK

Sunday, December 9th, 2012 at 1:00 pm at the Bunker Hill Memorial please join us in celebrating the March of Rochambeau's Army in December of 1782.

Click here to see photographs from the event.

The 2012 Lafayette Day Event, to celebrate Lafayette's 255th birthday, was held in Salem, MA.

Click here for photographs from the event.

Here is your Invitation to join us for the Lafayette Day events on May 17 and/or May 18, 2012. Seating for the Luncheon is limited so please send in your reservations as soon as possible. As you can see Alan et. al. have put together another eventful day for us. Looking forward to seeing many of you again this year.
** special this year**
Honoring Veterans who served in Normandy in WWII by the French Gov't with Legion of Honor Medal.
Lafayette Reinactor will be in Boston just for our programs!
Special Luncheon guest speaker!
Details and official invitation will be on line soon.

May 18th, 2012 MA State House Program in a.m.

Click here to see photographs from the event.

May 17th, 2012 Reception at The Ritz Carlton, Boston Common