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This French national holiday, recalling the storming of the king’s political prison on July 14, 1789, recognizes the French Revolution as a result of the lessons learned in the American Revolution and expounded in the Declaration of Independence.
The ceremony included greetings by Mayor Noam Bramson, a brief talk by attorney James S. Kaplan attorney and Sister City committee member on “Ties that Bind: France, Lafayette and James Monroe” and a brief note on “Why We Celebrate Bastille Day” by Peter A. Korn, committee convener.
At the raising of the tri-color of the French Republic, celebrants and guests joined in singing “La Marseillaise” followed by "The Star-Spangled Banner."
In his remarks, Kaplan discussed how the revolutionary concepts enshrined in Bastille Day created turmoil, but linked America with those French who participated in the American Revolution.
The ceremony included a performance by guest musicians Pierrick Dubreuil and Hugues Sarrat, trumpet players sent by the La Rochelle, France Rotary Clubs, La Rochelle Dixie Jazz and Association France/Etats-Unis, accompanied by drummer Brian Carter.
The Bastille Day ceremony is presented annually by the Sister City Initiative, which seeks to deepen the 326-year bond of friendship between New Rochelle and La Rochelle, France. New members are welcome.
For more information, contact the New Rochelle Sister City Committee Convener Peter Korn sistercitynr@gmail.com.
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