Rebuilding Kentucky libraries receive Lafayette: America’s Young Hero & Guest
Author Mowday, DAR, Kentucky Colonels and American Friends of Lafayette are involved
December 8, 2025
Rebuilding Kentucky libraries devastated by flooding
receive Lafayette: America’s Young Hero & Guest books
published by Chester and Delaware counties Lafayette group
DAR, Kentucky Colonels and American Friends of Lafayette join in effort
Kentucky libraries devastated by flooding have received copies of Lafayette: America’s Young Hero & Guest book, published by the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee and the American Friends of Lafayette.
An article written for the Gazette on the Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, committee by Bonny Wise and Sue Rogers stated, “Bruce Mowday’s children’s book became a cornerstone of our educational outreach. We were fortunate to have the dedicated support of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) members on both sides of the Ohio River, who tirelessly distributed copies to area schools, ensuring that even the youngest members of our community learned about Lafayette. Altogether, over 750 copies of Lafayette: America’s Young Hero & Guest were donated to schools in Indiana and Kentucky. The Kentucky Colonels funded our educational panels as well as 37 of Bruce Mowday’s books that were distributed to Eastern Kentucky counties that had lost their libraries to floods.”
Mowday, a Chester County author, was the chair of the local Brandywine Lafayette committee. He worked with committee members, AFL President Alan R. Hoffman and artist Shay Aubrey Allen to produce the book for students and young adults. Recently, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Mowday the “1776-2026 DAR America 250! Commendation for his work on the Lafayette book.
“Education was one of the primary goals of the Lafayette bicentennial,” Mowday said. “I was so glad to see the book so widely distributed.”
The Bicentennial marked Lafayette’s return to the United States in 1824 and 1825 to honor him for his great contributions to America’s freedom during the American Revolution. The American Friends of Lafayette organized more than 300 events during the bicentennial.
The AFL is planning a second series of events to mark Lafayette’s first trip to the United States through his wounding at the battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777.
To see accounts of the Bicentennial, see https://friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org/Gazettes.
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!