NC’s Official Lafayette Birthday Celebration

 

Fayetteville honors namesake September 10th

September 2011

Fayetteville, NC – In 1825, the Revolutionary War hero marquis de Lafayette visited Fayetteville during his “Grand Tour” of the United States.   Fayetteville was the first city named after Lafayette and the only namesake city he visited on his grand tour. 

 Today, Fayetteville celebrates the birth of the French nobleman with a variety of events on Saturday, September 10, 2011. Although his actual birthday is September 6th, the weekend after Labor Day has been designated for this public observance.
 
Both the US Congress and the NC House of Representatives recognize the significance of this celebration. In 2007, the United States Congress issued a proclamation that declared Fayetteville is  “where North Carolina Celebrates Lafayette’s Birthday.”   In 2011, the NC House of Representatives issued statement that proclaims that “the celebration held every September in Fayetteville as North Carolina’s official Lafayette Birthday Celebration.”
 
 “Lafayette is considered the “Hero of Two Worlds” because of his participation in the American and French Revolutions as a military leader, diplomat, negotiator, and fierce advocate of freedom for all men,” said Representative Diane Parfitt in her comments on the NC House floor. “Although a nobleman, he readily embraced the ideas of liberty and equality for all men.”
 
Highlights of the day-long series of events on September 10th include historic reenactments, the Festival of Yesteryear, a tour that traces Lafayette’s 1825 visit, a fencing tournament, a 5K/10K run, a sidewalk sale, barbecue and concert with children’s activities.
 
Not able to visit September 10? Not to worry, the Lafayette Cultural Heritage Trail allows visitors to trace Lafayette’s 1825 Fayetteville tour at any time.   Stop at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (FILI) armory to see Lafayette’s carriage. FILI, the oldest militia unit in continuous existence in the south, accompanied Lafayette during his 1825 visit.   

For more information on this event, go to www.LafayetteSociety.org, or contact Dr. Hank Parfitt at 910-286-3979, hankparfitt@gmail.com
 
 For more information on other events happening in greater Fayetteville, go to www.VisitFayettevilleNC.com.
 
About the FACVB:
The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for positioning Fayetteville/Cumberland County as a destination for conventions, sporting events and individual travel. For additional information, visit www.visitfayettevillenc.com or call 1-800-255-8217. Fayetteville/Cumberland County is America's first military sanctuary. Through the Army's Army and other volunteer groups, our citizens and businesses are dedicated to “watching over those who watch over us ©.”

Press Contact: Melody Foote (mfoote@visitfayettevillenc.com), 888-98-HEROES