On August 18, the Village of Mamaroneck celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the triumphant return of American Revolutionary War hero Frenchman Lafayette to Mamaroneck.  Lafayette is the most decorated foreigner in American History, given Honorary American Citizenship by an act of Congress in 2002.

 The event took place on the grounds of the Old School House in Harbor Island Park. The highlight was the welcoming of Virginie de Pusy Lafayette, a descendant of the Marquis, a Lafayette actor, and members of the American Friends of Lafayette. They were met by Westchester County Executive George Latimer and other community leaders. A proclamation from the Village of Mamaroneck was presented by Deputy Mayor  Nora Lucas.  Proclamations from Westchester County, the Town of Mamaroneck, and the Village of Larchmont were also on display. 

 The 3-hour event also featured re-enactors (soldier, tailor & candlestick maker), storytellers, and musicians demonstrating life during the period. The School House was open throughout for an exhibit and talks about Mamaroneck in that era.  The event concluded with a 19-gun salute by the Mamaroneck American Legion Post 90.

The event was emceed by Marie Moreno, Vice President of the LM Lions, and covered by LMC Media (video link-https://youtu.be/ls1aD-8glTA).

 We thank the Mamaroneck Library for hosting a talk on August 8  by John Pritts from the Mamaroneck Historical Society on Lafayette and Mamaroneck at the time of his 1824 return and for their exhibition on books and media about Lafayette.

 Participants included the Girl Scouts, The Daughters & Sons of the American Revolution, American Legion Post 90, Friends of Lafayette, The French American School, LMC Media, the Mamaroneck Historical Society, and the Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions.