Good morning Friends of Lafayette...

In permanent recognition of his role in aiding the American cause, an American flag has flown over Lafayette’s grave at Cimetière de Picpus ever since the end of WWI.  Even during the Nazi occupation, the American flag was present.

The flag is changed every year, in a highly orchestrated ceremony attended by French and American dignitaries, including representatives of the U.S. Embassy, the French Senate, the Mayor’s Office, the Sons of the American Revolution in France, and the Society of the Cincinnati in France and the American Friends of Lafayette.

Officers from the United States military carry out the ceremony while officers from the French military are in attendance as well. The American Friends of Lafayette always have members in attendance and join other organizations with laying wreaths and paying respects. 

The ceremony has been scheduled consistently on July 4th, year after year, until recently when scheduling conflicts of certain dignitaries moved the ceremony to different dates.  Unfortunately, the ceremony has taken place on dates other than July 4th over the past several years, either in late June or early July.  This year, the flag is being changed today.

For the first time in 75 years, the AFL will not be laying a wreath at Lafayette's grave during the flag changing ceremony.  Due to concerns regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, French officials have scaled down today's ceremony.

Please keep Lafayette in your thoughts today.  Even though we cannot be there physically, today is a good day to think about our hero and how he made the world a better place.

Thank you and vive Lafayette!!!

Chuck Schwam