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Friendship Across the Ocean
by Hubert de La Jonquière
Remembering the American Revolution and preserving Franco-American friendship are core values of the Society of Cincinnati. Since 1783, members of the Society have been perpetuating the friendship between the American and French officers who fought during the American Revolution. Members of the Society have been settling down in different parts of the United States, keeping the original spirit of friendship alive. The memory of the Revolutionary War is no longer limited to the first thirteen colonies, but can now be experienced throughout the country. This geographical expansion is the
fruit of a successful effort by the Society to constantly reimagine itself over the course of its 236 year existence.
My tour of the United States took me through history and across the country, discovering wonderful places while meeting incredible people. At every stage of this journey, I discovered unexpected aspects of the United States thanks to the members of the Society who received me. I was honored to be the French Scholar, following the footsteps of my father, Clément-Philippe de Taffanel, Vicomte de La Jonquière, the French Scholar in 1977.
During this trip, I was able to expand my understanding of the history and culture of the United States. To begin with, Santa Fe, the oldest state capital in the United States, is a unique city
that introduced me to the history of the Santa Clara Pueblo Native Americans. From Indian art to contemporary art, Chris Webster showed me the artistic wealth of this city. Its architecture and the surrounding mountains are stunning
to behold.
The memory of the American Revolution was
at the heart of my journey. Many cities I visited were closely linked to the achievement of American Independence. While in Charleston,
I learned about the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, which was the first decisive victory for the Americans against the British. Paul Gibson took me with his boat to the scene of the battle,
Fort Moultrie, formerly known as Fort Sullivan. Despite an unfinished fort and a major attack by the British, Colonel Moultrie succeeded in pro- tecting Charleston, which was the largest harbor and city for the Southern Colonies. A few days later, the Congress declared the independence of the United States.
Controlling the Hudson River was strategic during the American Revolution. Randall Hammond and Peter Dodge took me to West Point Academy to better understand the military techniques of the Revolution. The Ecole Polytechnique Monument, located at West Point Academy, is a symbol of the continuation of the fraternity between the United States and France during the First World War. Randall and Peter
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