New York | La fabuleuse escale de l’Hermione
Deux jours et demi après avoir quitté Philadelphie, après la descente de la Delaware et une navigation le long des côtes du New-Jersey, L’Hermione a fait ce mercredi son entrée dans la baie de New-York. Sous un ciel un peu voilé, la réplique de la frégate de La Fayette a progressé lentement vers Manhattan et son ponton d’accueil de South Street Seaport Museum. Après l’amarrage, la musique du bagad de Lann Bihoué a salué officiellement l’arrivée de Yann Cariou et de ses hommes et femmes d’équipage au cœur de Big Apple.
images HD Association Hermione La Fayette – 1 Juillet 2015
C’est dans un silence presque religieux que l’équipage de l’Hermione a vécu l’approche de l’arrivée à New York, l’une des étapes les plus symboliques de son voyage américain. A bord, l’émotion de l’équipage, habillé en costumes historiques pour l’occasion, était palpable. Pas ou peu de mots, des étoiles plein les yeux, tout juste quelques clichés pour immortaliser le moment… pour tous cette arrivée à New-York a pris des allures de rêve éveillé. Circulant Au milieu du trafic maritime habituel de la baie de New York , la frégate de la Liberté a tour à tour salué le pont Verrazano, la Statue de la Liberté puis Manhattan, arrachant quelques regards humides à certains gabiers, avant de s’amarrer au Pier 15 de South Street Seaport Museum.
images Valerie Toebat /Association Hermione La Fayette – 4 Juillet 2015
Over Twenty years ago a small group put together plans to build a replica of L’Hermione. A few years later specialists and craftsmen were enlisted to build an authentic replica using original drawings of her sister ship. As the raw materials evolved into a beautiful tall ship, so did plans to relive Lafayette’s voyage, and sail L’Hermione to the shores of America. Completed in 2014, the blue, black, and gold L’Hermione stands 117 feet tall and 210 feet long, with three masts, 19 sails, and 34 cannons.
In 1777, Lafayette at the age of only 19, secretly and against the wishes of the French government, sailed to America and volunteered to fight on the side of America in the Revolutionary War. General George Washington welcomed Lafayette as a son and a deep bond of friendship was formed. Lafayette served with distinction, most notably rallying the troops at the Battle of Brandywine.
Lafayette served with General Washington through the winter at Valley Forge. Then he returned to France in 1778 to lobby for the American cause. The French King finally agreed to support the Americans with a military force. Frigate Hermione sailed Lafayette back to America in 1780. When Lafayette met Washington in Morristown, NJ, with news of the French support, he said these immortal words, ‘Here I am, My Dear General.”
French forces helped trap Cornwallis at Yorktown and L’Hermione was part of the naval blockade which led to the British surrender. With the American Revolution secured, Lafayette returned to France. For the rest of his life, Lafayette would remain an ardent friend of the United States. In 1824, President James Monroe invited Lafayette to celebrate the nation’s 50th Anniversary and help instill the “Spirit of 1776” in the next generation. Lafayette received a hero’s welcome and many honors and monuments commemorated his visit.
