The Lower Manhattan Historical Society (LMHS), in conjunction with the Bowling Green Association, the Sons Of the Revolution of the State of New York, the Sons of the American Revolution and Culture Now, has announced expanded historical activities in Lower Manhattan for the July 4, 2015 weekend.
On July 1, the Hermione, the full life replica of the ship which the Marquis de Lafayette sailed in 1780 to help save the American Revolution, will arrive at Pier 16 of the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan as part of its voyage to cities on the Eastern Seaport.
Hermione will be docked there until July 4. There will be a welcoming ceremony involving French and American dignitaries, including Miles Young, chairman of the Board of the American Friends of L’Hermione-Lafayette in America (Friends) and possibly Henry Kissinger, a member of the Friends board, along with prominent New York politicians. The LMHS, which has been working with the Friends, anticipates participating in these ceremonies, particularly in connection with the presentation of its Evacuation Day flag.
The activities begin on Friday July 3, with a parade and flag raising in honor of the arrival of the Hermoine, which has been carrying on its voyage the LMHS Evacuation Day flag, flown at Bowling Green during Evacuation Day 2014. There will be a parade from the South Street Seaport to Bowling Green where the LMHS Evacuation Day flag and the French flag will be raised at the Bowling Green flagpoles to be flown at least until Bastille Day (July 14).
Continuing a tradition begun last year, the LMHS and allied groups will be coordinating a number of historical activities in Lower Manhattan, including the following:
• An all-night walking tour of Lower Manhattan’s revolutionary history sponsored by the Fraunces Tavern Museum, and followed by a 7 am wreath laying ceremony on the graves of General Horatio Gates, Alexander Hamilton and Marinus Willett in Trinity Churchyard.
• A 51 gun salute at the Historic Castle Clinton by the New York Veteran Corps of Artillery.
• The National Parks Service will host a day of events at Federal Hall which will include musical performances by Linda Russell, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and activities for children.
• Fraunces Tavern Museum will be open to the public on July 4 for $1 per person.
• A ceremony by members of the Temple of Universal Judaism in front of Fraunces Tavern honoring George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island, stating that the United States shall “give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance”.
There will be an opening reception for an exhibit in honor of the arrival of the Hermione including a large scale model of the ship, a painting of the ship by the French artists Laurent Daura and nautical artifacts from the South Street Seaport Museum at the World Trade Gallery at 120 Broadway ground floor at 6-8 pm on May 21 2015, at which Miles Young, Chairman of the American Friends of L’Hermione-Lafayette in America will speak.
Hello. We will be staying in lower Manhattan Thurs, Jul 2 – Sat, July 3. I have visited several websites regarding the Hermoines July 4th weekend in NYC, but I can’t seem to find a schedule of events/activities with associated times, locations and costs. Is there a site or page that I can visit for these details? Thank you so much! Jill
We should have a website for the July 4 festival shortly There will be a ceremony and parade starting at 11 on July 3 from the South Street Seaport to Bowling Green. On July 4 there will be basically the same events at the same times as last year–i.e a 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. July 4 walking tour (see the website for the Fraunces Tavern Museum) , A 7a.m. wreath laying at Trinity Churchyard, a 51 gun salute by the Veteran Corp of Artillery at Castle Clinton (around 10:45 , see their website), a soon to be confirmed program at Federal Hall by the National Park Service, and at 3:15 pm a reading of George Washington’s Newport letter to the Jews in front of Fraunces Tavern.
Feel free to email Abby Suckle at Abby@culturenow.com, who is in charge of the website, or me at Jskaplanesq@gmail.com who is President of the Lower Manhattan Historical Society.
The email for Abby Suckle is Abby@culture now.org. Except for the 3 a.m tour there is no charge for any of the Events. The reading of the Newport Letter is sponsored by the Temple of Universal Judaism
Hello Mr. Kaplan,
I attended the very informative gallery event on May21st and have since looked forward to the arrival events for L’Hermione!
As I have a guest from France here only until July 2nd, I wonder what we might be able to attend? I would be happy to contribute a donation if appropriate.
Sincerely,
Linda Porto lmporto38@yahoo.com
I attended today’s event welcoming the Hermione to New York. I was surprised at the low attendance and believe this is a significant historical event to remember, honor and recognize the contribution Lafayette and the French made to our independence. The “American Dignitaries” consisted of the Mayor’s international representative, the South Street Seaport President and a representative from the Oneida Nation. While they all did an excellent job, unless the Mayor plans on attending another event to honor Lafayette and France, I think we dropped the ball and was embarrassed that the Mayor and Governor of our State did not feel it important enough to attend.
I didn’t know a thing about this until this morning’s Times, too late to change today’s plans. Should have had better press.
What time is she departing on July 4?