Community Corner

New Rochelle Celebrates Bastille Day

The city celebrated the French national holiday Monday as part of its Sister City Initiative.

The following release is from the Sister City Initiative City of New Rochelle: 

In celebration of New Rochelle's founding by the Huguenots 326 years ago, the New Rochelle Sister City Committee presented a Bastille Day ceremony on Monday July 14 at City Hall. This French national holiday, recalling the storming of the king’s political prison, recognized the French Revolution as a result of the lessons learned in the American Revolution and expounded in our Declaration of Independence.

The ceremony included greetings by Mayor Noam Bramson, a short talk by James S. Kaplan, Esq., Attorney and Sister City Committee member, “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, Mr. Kaplan discussed how the revolutionary concepts enshrined in Bastille Day created turmoil, but linked America with those French who participated in the American Revolution and the saving of their lives.

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The ceremony included a performance by guest musicians Pierrick Dubreuil, 18, and Hugues Sarrat, 15, 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 trio also played with other accomplished musicians on Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13 on Library Green at the New Rochelle Jazz Fest.  

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 welcomed! For further information contact the New Rochelle Sister City Committee, Convener Peter Korn sistercitynr@gmail.com .

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