"Lafayette, We Are Here!"

...is what the doughboys of WWI were reported to have said when they disembarked in France. It was a reference to America's great debt to France during the War of Independence- in every way, through funding, naval assistance, arms supplies, and even the in-person experienced military leadership of the Marquis de Lafayette, France supported the American War of Independence.

Without their assistance, the Revolution could have failed at multiple points.

Sure, they may have been just doing it to stick a strategic thumb in King George's eye. But the point was, they were there for us.

The ties are deep, and heartfelt.

Pierre L'Enfant helped lay out the fledgling Republic's new Capital City of Washington, D.C.

France commemorated the centennial of our independence with the gift of Bartholdi's "Liberty Enlightening the World", which has become one of the world's great cultural treasures.

Now another of the world's great cultural treasures on the Île de la Cité in Paris is in ashes and ruins.

When they begin the rebuilding process, America must once again take up the cry: "Lafayette, we are here!" and send generous support.

There is as yet no organized effort to pull together a major support of which I'm aware. Please post in the thread below if that's not the case. Hopefully a reputable organization or group will take on the task of gathering and aggregating support, accounting properly for it, and passing on the gift(s) without making it a rake-off opportunity.

When that happens, I plan to give generously.

I visited Notre Dame in 1978. It was one of the more memorable experiences of my young life.

My heart is in Paris tonight.

sadly,
Bright