On a bright and sunny summer’s day in August 2024, I had the honor of joining members of the American Friends of Lafayette escorting our own Lafayette from Staten Island to Manhattan. A crowd joined us in our parade on Broadway. The weekend included a reception at the French Consulate, a book signing at the city armory where I signed my book on the Frenchman under his portrait, dinners and programs on Lafayette’s life.

Two hundred years before my trip, tens of thousands of people gathered in New York City to greet our American hero. As Chuck Schwam of the American Friends of Lafayette stated, “If you think the Beatles received a great reception in New York City, it wasn’t close to the one Lafayette received.”

In 1824, Lafayette was America’s guest, invited by our government. The United States was giving our Revolutionary War hero his long overdue moment in the sun. His trip was scheduled to conclude after four months. He stayed 13 months as all 24 states of the union wanted to show appreciation for the sacrifices made by the young Lafayette during our American Revolution.

For the Bicentennial Celebration, the American Friends of Lafayette, under the guidance of Schwam and Alan Hoffman, organized more than 300 events in the 24 states where Lafayette visited. The Bicentennial Celebration was a momentous undertaking by a non-profit organization with dedicated members numbering less than 1,000. The organization’s membership greatly increased during the bicentennial. Important partnerships were forged, especially the DAR, the Masons and America’s 250th.  The Bicentennial Celebration was an overwhelming success.

The final bicentennial events took place last weekend in Washington, D.C. The weekend marked Lafayette’s return to France 200 years ago aboard a new Navy vessel named Brandywine. The battle of Brandywine played a pivotal role in Lafayette’s life and the founding of the United States. On September 11, 1777, Lafayette shed his blood for American independence as he was wounded during the battle at Chadds Ford, Chester County.

Who was this American hero? Unfortunately, I’ve discovered too many Americans can’t answer this question. At the age of 19, Lafayette defied his king and left his family to fight for American independence. He was a wealthy teenager who wanted to volunteer. He spent part of his fortune for his belief that everyone should be free. He was a man ahead of his time and he suffered while adhering to his beliefs, spending five years in prison during the French Revolution.

The Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration just didn’t happen. Years of planning by American Friends of Lafayette leaders and committee chairs took place. Volunteers spent countless hours planning and executing plans for the events. Some were large, including the kickoff celebration in New York City, while others were smaller but still grand. To be sure, there were obstacles to overcome.  From small glitches, such as gridlocked New York City streets and a lost carriage in another New York State city, to larger funding issues, all were overcome.

I was an early recruit as chair of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee. More than 60 people joined our committee as we executed an October 2024 celebration in Chester and then a two-tier event on the field of Brandywine at Thornbury Farm and a Lafayette Ball at the Chester County History Center on July 26, 2025.

An early goal of the national bicentennial organization and our local committee was education. We conducted an essay contest for students. During an early committee meeting, our group identified the lack of a non-fiction book for students and young adults. Thus, Lafayette: America’s Young Hero and Guest was published. With the help of the DAR, more than 1,300 books were distributed!

Celebrating Lafayette’s life seemed like a “no brainer,” especially since the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States takes place next year.  No so. Too many governmental entities, business organizations and individuals were less than enthusiastic about our approaches to join in the Lafayette celebration.  Chester County’s history is important to this country. There is a dedicated, but not overly large, group in the county that realizes the importance of preserving our history.

While disappointing, the lack of historical spirit was not surprising. Our educational system has failed to teach the important lessons of history.

My small effort included 40 events in eight states where I gave a presentation on Lafayette during the 13 months. Not all of my appearances were part of the official American Friends of Lafayette (AFL) celebration, but I took part in AFL events in New York City, Claymont, Del.; Chester, Pa.; the French Embassy in Washington, DC; Yorktown, VA; Annapolis, Md.; Louisville, KY; Jeffersonville, IN;, Lancaster, Pa.; Schenectady, NY; Chadds Ford, Pa.; and West Chester, Pa. I even was the MC of several of the celebrations.

The time has come for AFL officials to take a breath and enjoy a well-earned respite. The next challenge for the Lafayette enthusiasts is to continue educating America about the Frenchman. America 250th educators will face the same challenge after July 4, 2026.

We all should remember Lafayette as on the day after spilling his blood for our freedom, he was on his way to becoming an American hero.

Bruce E. Mowday was chair of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee. He authored more than 25 books, including three on Lafayette and the battle of Brandywine. They are September 11, 1777; Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero and Young Lafayette: America’s Young Hero and Guest. He is a member of the Chester County 250th committee. For more information on Mowday, see www.mowday.com. To contact Mowday, write to [email protected].