A Powerful Moment Honoring Lafayette at Brandywine
August 1, 2025
A Powerful Moment Honoring
American Hero Lafayette Held at Brandywine
By Bruce E. Mowday
A powerful moment to mark our nation’s history took place on the field of Brandywine battlefield on Saturday.
As a social media posting by the American Friends of Lafayette reported, “Honoring the past at Brandywine! A powerful moment as Lafayette was awarded the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal, with an official citation from Governor Josh Shapiro and Adjutant General Pippy recognizing his enduring legacy and service during the American Revolution.
Two hundred years to the day that Lafayette visited Chadds Ford and West Chester, the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee presented its Lafayette Day programs commemorating Lafayette, an American hero that greatly contributed to the freedoms we all now enjoy. The 70-person committee worked for almost four years to mold the “powerful moment.”
Lafayette contributed his youth, his fortune and his blood to make America free. On July 26, 2025, our community honored the Frenchman with a welcoming service at Thornbury Farm and at a Lafayette Ball at the Chester County History Center in West Chester.
Brigadier General Frank McGovern presented the medal to Marine Fraval-Vennel, Honorary French Consul to Philadelphia. The medal was then pinned on Lafayette, portrayed by Michael Halbert. Chuck Schwam, Executive Director and Bicentennial Chair of the American Friends of Lafayette participated in the presentation and took possession of the medal.
The post by the American Friends of Lafayette reported, “The ceremony opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, grounding us in the values” of the American Revolution. At Brandywine on September 11, 1777, Lafayette was wounded while fighting the British, thus proving his dedication to freedom and independence.
A feature article in France Today by Martha Sessums reported, “Another key purpose of the Bicentennial is to remind us of the importance of the French/American friendship. Lafayette returned to France in February 1779 to convince the king of France, along with Benjamin Franklin, to increase French support for the American Revolution. France agreed to send ships, arms and 6,000 troops that ultimately made the key difference in American Independence success. This was shown in the decisive battle of Yorktown where troops under Lafayette’s command helped block the British army which finally surrendered, making way for the creation of the United States.
“People don’t realize that next to the United States, the allied with the most troops in harm’s way were French,” said Schwam. “We would have never won the Revolutionary War without France. It never, ever, never would have happened. There were more French military personnel in Yorktown than American. And this is something that we feel is important. We tell people that without France’s involvement we would have never gained our independence.”
The American Friends of Lafayette are marking the 13-month visit of Lafayette in 1824 and 1825 by holding hundreds of events in the then 24 states Lafayette visited as our “Nation’s Guest.” The celebration began in New York City in August 2024 and will conclude in September with a weekend celebration in Washington, D.C.
So many people contributed to our events on Saturday, including Randell Spackman of Thornbury Farm, committee member Lisa Doan-Harley, American Friend of Lafayette’s Patti Maclay, who is National Vice Chair of Lafayette Farewell Tour, Daughters of the American Revolution: National Chair Franco-American Committee and Vice Regent of Maryland DAR and Troy Grubb, site administrator of Brandywine Battlefield Park.
Conor Hepp and Jennifer Green of the Chester County History Center deserve special recognition for organizing a spectacular Lafayette Ball.
The committee received many compliments for Saturday’s programs. Marine Fraval-Vennel wrote, “It was a pleasure to support Saturday’s program, and I was impressed by the care and professionalism that went into every detail. The positive feedback from attendees speaks to the success of the day.” Several people wrote Saturday was a day they will never forget. Another wrote, “You all truly knocked it out of the park, the events were well planned, paced, and orchestrated!”
While Lafayette Day was an overwhelming success and a kickoff for our America 250th celebration, additional work needs to done to continue the education of Americans about Lafayette and the founders of this nation.
(Bruce E. Mowday is the chair of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee and author of the books September 11, 1777: Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia, Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero, and Lafayette: America’s Young Hero and Guest.)
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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!