Go Lafayette, It’s Your Birthday; AMB Delattre, Daughters of the American Revolution Honor Marquis

KALORAMA -- Having come to the aid of the 13 colonies during the American War of Independence, as well as endured a handful of uprisings of its own, it’s pretty safe to say that the French know a thing or two about revolutions.

It was therefore quite fitting that the backdrop for Monday’s Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) reception was the French ambassador to the United States’ personal residence in Kalorama.

Co-hosted by Ambassador François Delattre and his wife, Mrs. Sophie L’Hélias-Delattre, the early evening celebration honored the anniversary of the birth of Marquis de Lafayette, who served as a general during the American Revolutionary War and is often described as the war’s ‘second most important figure’ after George Washington.

Indeed, the strong bilateral ties between the United States and France that were seeded way back in 1776 continue to this day, with the former now its European ally’s largest investor (American investment in France is up more than 40% over the past three years).

And the DAR’s support of the French people has been equally unwavering over the years, with the nonprofit, nonpolitical organization going so far as to help raise funds to rebuild devastated French villages after the great World Wars.

Remarked Ambassador Delattre: "I think it's very important to remember that in today's testing times, the values…that came…from the French and American revolutions… These values are more than ever our best guide -- I would even say our best moral compass -- to confront together the current challenges that we face. This is I think the…very strong message of the Daughters of the American Revolution."

As a token of friendship between the DAR and the French people, the D.C.-area chapter of the organization gifted the Ambassador at yesterday’s reception with a small redbud tree grown on the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

Alexandra and Jan Cousteau.
Serving witness to such a celebratory occasion was a crowded room full of primarily local DAR members. One notable exception, however, was Jan Cousteau, who is the recipient of the DAR's 2012 National Conservation Medal for her work on behalf of ocean conservation.

As the Ambassador concluded: "Vive Les États-Unis. Vive la France. Et vive la femme." We couldn’t put it any better ourselves.