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YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Twenty-one blasts reverberated across the
waterfront of Yorktown, Va., June 2, 2014 ... rolling across the
water as the French frigate La Fayette (F710) rendered honors to the
U.S. and French Sailors who stood ashore.
At attention, their
arms raised in similar yet distinguished salutes, the Sailors
returned the honor, reflecting on the strong alliance between France
and the United States - an alliance that has existed since the
American Revolutionary War and one that allowed the United States
it's independence from Great Britain.
It was a commemoration
of the mutual gratitude between the two countries. The captain and
30 members of the crew of La Fayette anchored the ship just off
shore to lay a wreath at the base of the Yorktown Victory Monument.
The monument was completed in 1884 in memory of the joint French and
U.S. victory over Great Britain at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
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YORKTOWN, Va. (June 2, 2014) American and French naval officers
render a salute to the French navy frigate La Fayette (F710)
following the ship's 21-gun salute during a wreath-laying ceremony
at the Yorktown Victory Monument. The ceremony commemorated the
joint U.S. and French victory over the British army at Yorktown in
1781, and to honor the continued alliance between France and
America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Adam Austin)
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"Twice America has been called to sacrifice its sons in
order to preserve the freedom of France," said French Navy
Capt. Serge Bordarier, commanding officer of La Fayette, in
reference to both world wars. "We have no right to forget
the debt we owe."
La Fayette is the second French
ship to be named in honor of Marquis de La Fayette, a
general in the American Revolutionary War and close partner
of Gen. George Washington.
"It's not every day that
you get to come out here, with beautiful weather and
beautiful ships, and have our allies right here with us,"
said U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Haebler, commanding officer of
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. "The ties between the United
States and France go all the way back to the founding of the
Navy, and it's just another day we get to celebrate and
commemorate the sacrifices made by both [countries]."
Bordarier's desire to honor the alliance led him to
reach out to Dan Smith, the superintendent of Colonial
National Historic Park, to hold and organize the
wreath-laying ceremony. More than 200 people were in
attendance.
"These events are so important for our
young to realize there is this military history; there is
this alliance with France," said Smith. "We have a lot of
retired Navy here today, as well as World War II veterans
and Vietnam veterans."
La Fayette will continue joint
exercises with the U.S. fleet throughout the coming weeks,
and is scheduled to arrive in the New York Harbor in the
next few days to honor the anniversary of D-Day, another
important battle that helped forge the friendship between
France and America.
"Each time an American Soldier
falls, wherever in the world it may be, France feels
solidarity with the United States," said Bordarier. "That
lone Soldier resembles those who fought for us on two
separate occasions and sacrificed their lives in doing so.
The friendship between our two countries will remain a
keystone of our diplomacy."
For more information on
the Yorktown Victory Monument, visit http://www.nps.gov/york/historyculture/vicmon.htm
By U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Adam Austin
Navy News Service
Copyright 2014
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