It’s almost July 4, the celebration of America’s declaration of independence from the British Empire, when we honor our forebears who had a vision of a more perfect union and were willing to lay down their lives for that cause. It’s a day of fireworks, ribs, corn on the cob, and red, white, and blue. And I’m not just talking about the Star Spangled Banner, but of another flag that shares our national colors: the barred banner of France.
Now, France and America haven’t been on the best terms lately, and for good reason. French leadership hasn’t been on Bush’s wavelength on just about anything, so there’s been some conflict involved. Not to mention the Bill O’Reilly-led boycott of French cheese, French wine, French fries (but not freedom fries!), basically everything French. And that is all well and good. The modern French had it coming.
But some 230 years ago, there was a Frenchman with a much different feeling toward America. By the time he was 20, he had organized a contingent of his countrymen to come to the New World to fight the British and help the colonists secure independence. He contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars (in 1776 money, so adjust that to inflation…) to the cause of the revolution that was not repaid. He knew George Washington personally and served under his command in several pivotal battles. As a Major General, he commanded both French and American troops. Posthumously – and only within the last three years – he became the sixth person in history to become an honorary citizen of the United States. He was an aristocrat, but a warrior; a visionary, but was able to translate his philosophy into practicality; he was a Frenchman, but was more loyal to the overall cause of liberty than anything else. So this July 4, raise a toast of your beverage of choice, from Schmirnoff to sweet tea, to the Marquis de Lafayette. Merci beaucoup, monsieur.
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