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worthy of the Palace of Versailles. We had the opportunity to watch a display of water jets performed to songs by Edith Piaf, organized especially for us.
We would like to thank the Pennsylvania and Delaware societies, James Orlo Pringle, Mark and Elizabeth Ward, and Forrest and Page Pragoff for the warm welcome and friendship throughout our stay. We would also like to thank Jonathan and Alice Woods for maintaining a strong friend- ship between the American and French members. We offer Pless and Mary Lunger and the General Officers our best wishes for the new triennium and offer them our unswerving support.
The Cincinnati of France held their annual general meeting on June 12. This year, five new directors were elected.
Following this general meeting, the board of directors elected the new president, Count Georges d'Harcourt. Born in 1941, Georges is a graduate of Saint Cyr and of l'École Supérieure de Guerre. He commanded the 2nd Hussard
Regiment and was military adviser of the French Defense Secretary of State. He retired from the army in 1993. Mayor of Essay (Orne) for seventeen years, he served as the president
of his community of communes. For a decade he served as vice president of the French branch of the International Paneuropa Union and he is chevalier of the Legion of Honor and officer of the Order of National Merit.
Upon accepting his new position, the new president emphasized that the French Society of the Cincinnati has an important role in maintaining Franco-American friendship, regardless of current political relations between our countries. History shows us that a mutual understanding of our nations based on knowledge of the past and the pursuit of a common vision must prevail. It is about safeguarding our values, a friendship forged over two centuries ago on the Yorktown and Chesapeake battlefields, in both World Wars, and still today in Africa and the Middle East.
Comte Axel de Chavagnac
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