“I didn’t know France helped us (in the American Revolution)”

June 3rd, 2024

June 3, 2024

“I didn’t know France helped us (in the American Revolution)” 

         During my book events, I interact with many people in the community. My travels take me to many areas in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. The one lament I hear time and again is that schools don’t teach American history.

On Saturday in Boiling Springs at a very successful arts and craft show, a young man stopped to peruse my history and true crime books. He appeared to be in his mid-20s and he was articulate. His main interest was centered on the book I wrote about the sniper-killings of two Kennett Square policemen. He asked some good questions about the case and the evidence against the convicted murderer.

We began a brief discussion on my books on Lafayette. His knowledge of the American hero who was wounded at the battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, was limited. I mentioned that Lafayette was responsible for the support from France that the United States needed to gain our freedom from England.

“I didn’t know France helped us,” was his reply.

The brief statement left me dumbfounded. The young man obviously had no understanding of the founding of our country. Indeed, wherever he went to school, the educational system was a failure.

In contrast, a woman stopped by my booth the same day and talked about the school system and the substance being taught. She and her friends have had enough of the perverted curriculum, she declared.

The discontent and divisiveness in this country on a myriad of subjects is evident by the one-on-one discussions I have at book events.

The American Friends of Lafayette is commemorating the bicentennial of Lafayette being honored as “America’s Guest.” For 13 months, Lafayette traveled the country in 1824 and 1825. Almost daily, parades, dinners and special events were held to honor his assistance in winning our freedom. For those interested in additional information, see www.lafayette200.org.