July 1, 2025
Marine Fraval-Vennel, French Consul to Philadelphia
is one of featured speakers at celebration
of Lafayette Bicentennial in Chadds Ford and West Chester
July 26, 2025, event includes Lafayette Ball at Chester County History Center
WEST CHESTER _ The Brandywine Valley’s salute to the Marquis Lafayette on Saturday, July 26, 2025, includes celebrated Lafayette speakers, a Lafayette Ball and appearances by Lafayette.
“For more than three years, members of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee have been working hard to commemorate the day Lafayette, an American hero, visited Chadds Ford and West Chester on July 26, 1825,” said committee chair Bruce E. Mowday. “We’re part of a fantastic 13-month national celebration being administered by the national American Friends of Lafayette. July 26 is our day to show our appreciation for the Revolutionary hero and to commence the celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
The morning events, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at Thornbury Farm, 1256 Thornbury Road, West Chester, are free and the public is encouraged to attend. The evening’s Ball at the Chester County History Center, 225 North High Street, beginning at 6:00 p.m. requires tickets. To obtain tickets, go to https://mycchc.org/lafayettes-ball/.
“In August 2024, thousands and thousands of people welcomed Lafayette in New York City,” Mowday said. “It was a grand welcome for Lafayette. By the time the 13-month concludes, Lafayette will be honored in all 24 states that constituted the United States 200 years ago. For our celebration, we are offering history, community and national pride and fun for everyone in the family.”
At our Chadds Ford morning opening ceremonies, Marine Fraval-Vennel, Honorary French Consul to Philadelphia, and Patti Maclay, who is a leader in the American Friends of Lafayette, the DAR and is Vice Regent of the Maryland DAR. Members of the Chester County Latta family will recite the prayer a family member recited at Lafayette’s dinner in 1824.
“Historical groups and organizations will be attending the morning event along with artifacts from the J. Howard Wert family collection,” Mowday said. “We’ll conduct a heritage walk from Thornburg Farm to the location with Lafayette was wounded during the battle of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777. That location is close to where Lafayette visited in 1825.”
The following is the program for day:
Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee Program
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Thornbury Farms, 1256 Thornbury Road, West Chester, PA 19380
10 a.m. Opening of Lafayette Day on the Brandywine battlefield
10 a.m. Displays, historical vendors, historical and Lafayette authors will be available to the public.
11 a.m. Welcoming Ceremony
- Randell Spackman welcomes everyone and introduces Bruce E. Mowday, chair and Master of Ceremonies
- Peter Alois introduces Marine Fraval-Vennel, Honorary French Consul to Philadelphia
- Lisa Doan-Harley announces winner of the student Lafayette essay contest
- Patti Maclay, NSDAR National Chair of the Franco-American Committee
- DAR’s Kris Barone presentation on Joseph C. McClellan
- Latta family presents invocation given by Rev. Latta on July 26, 1825.
- Dignitaries are recognized.
- Troy Grubb, site administrator of Brandywine Battlefield Park
- Chuck Schwam, Executive Director and Bicentennial Chair for the American Friends of Lafayette.
- Lafayette’s presentation.
11:45 a.m. Heritage Walk from Thornbury Farm to Birmingham Hill where Lafayette was wounded on September 11, 1777.
3 p.m. Close of festivities at Thornbury Farm.
West Chester
2 p.m. Walk from Miner Street to Marshall Square Park as part of Chester County’s Town Tours & Village Walks p.m.
6 p.m. Grand Lafayette Ball takes place at Chester County History Center, 225 North High Street, West Chester, PA 19382.
Evening festivities conclude in West Chester where Lafayette spent the night on July 26, 1825.
“We’re working on additional events,” Mowday said. “We hope to have final approval for the awarding of the Pennsylvania Cross of Valor. The medal is quite an honor for Lafayette and our program.”
For information see the Facebook page of Lafayette Brandywine Bicentennial Committee and www.Lafayette200.org. The American Friends of Lafayette Bicentennial is affiliated with the national and Chester County 250 committees.
New in 2025!
A Killer at the Door: The Dramatic Prison Break and Manhunt for Convicted Murderer Danilo Cavalcante
Schiffer Publishing releases Bruce E. Mowday’s new book on the escape of crab-walking murderer Danilo Cavalcante from Chester County Prison. A Killer at the Door details the two-week search for Cavalcante and his capture and the terror experienced by community members. The story was followed internationally. Contact Bruce at mowday@mowday.com for signed copies!