ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY REPRESENTATIVES BAYHAM AND GALLE
A RESOLUTION
To commend the American Friends of Lafayette and to recognize their efforts to celebrate
and commemorate General et Marquis de La Fayette's seven-day visit to Louisiana
in 1825.
WHEREAS, from August 15th of this year through September of 2025, the American
Friends of Lafayette will celebrate the significant contributions made by Marie-Joseph Paul
Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, towards American independence and
the bicentennial of Lafayette's "The Nation's Guest" Tour; and
WHEREAS, as a 19-year-old French general in 1777, Marquis de La Fayette defied
King Louis XVI's direct orders not to get involved in the conflict between Great Britain and
its American colonies, and instead he joined the Continental Army to fight the British; and
WHEREAS, General Lafayette quickly proved himself in battle and was recognized
by General George Washington; and
WHEREAS, General Lafayette displayed outstanding leadership while serving
alongside Colonel Alexander Hamilton during the siege of Yorktown, which eliminated the
crucial British redoubts 9 and 10 and eventually forced General Lord Cornwallis's surrender
and turned the tide of the war; and
WHEREAS, General Lafayette's participation in the American cause for
independence played a pivotal role in convincing France to enter the war; the French
financial and miliary assistance directly contributed to the Continental Army's victory over
Great Britain, which led to our nation's independence; and
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WHEREAS, in 1824, President James Monroe and congress believed that American
patriotism was waning; the last surviving general of the American Revolution, General
Lafayette, was invited to tour the twenty-four states of the Union in hopes of reigniting pride
in our nation; the six thousand-mile, thirteen-month-long tour was an enormous success; and
WHEREAS, the American Friends of Lafayette is a historical society founded in
1932 at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, that is honoring the contributions of
General et Marquis de La Fayette with a celebration of the Bicentennial of Lafayette's tour;
the celebration features commemorative events around the country to mark events such as
Lafayette's historic seven-day visit to Louisiana in 1825; and
WHEREAS, Lafayette was rightfully acknowledged by the French philosopher
Voltaire as "the hero of two worlds"; the American Friends of Lafayette are working with
numerous local organizations in Louisiana, including the Louisiana State Museum; events
will include a Lafayette historical exhibit at the Cabildo.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the American Friends of Lafayette and
recognizes their efforts to celebrate and commemorate the significant contributions made by
General et Marquis de La Fayette during his seven-day visit to Louisiana in 1825 and does
hereby extend sincerest wishes that the commemorative celebration reignites pride in both
American and Louisiana history.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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