Members of Le Regiment Bourbonnais. The new grave markers are to the front and a French ceremonial flag provided by Le Souvenir Français is surrounded by wreaths. Inscribed on the new grave markers: Maj. Pierre du Rousseau, Chevalier de Fayolle, aide to Lafayette, who died in America at the age of 34; and L’Augustin Benjamin Lavilmarais, of the French Frigate L’Hermione, who died at the age of 37.
We are saddened by the dispute between the US and France, our oldest ally, over the nuclear submarine announcement. Only last week, at Trinity Church in Newport, RI, we celebrated our 240-year alliance that won American independence in 1781 by honoring two French officers who died in service to America. Joining us at the ceremony were the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, The American Friends of Lafayette, and the Newport Historical Society.
Colonel Aymeric Tardieu de Maleissye-Melun, French Army, French National Liaison Representative to NATO, SACT (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation), and members of the Newport Artillery Company who provided a 21-gun salute.
hierry Chaunu, President, American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc. flanked by members of Le Regiment Bourbonnais.
Arnaud Mentré , Consul General of France in Boston, and Johnny Carawan, Trail Administrator for the NPS Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Administrator. Prior to his assignment in Boston, French Consul Mentré was Deputy Assistant Secretary for North America in the Bureau of the Americas at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (2015-2018), responsible for bilateral relationships with the U.S. and Canada.