Welcome to Our Blog!

"He devoted himself, his life, his fortune, his hereditary honors, his towering ambition, his splendid hopes, all to the cause of liberty"...John Quincy Adams

Welcome to Loudoun's American Friends of Lafayette Blog! My name is Laura Berish and I am the Education Coordinator for Lafayette in Loudoun. I have long been inspired by Lafayette and his influence on the founding of our nation. From his successes as a Revolutionary military leader especially in Virginia, to his advocacy for liberty for all in the North American colonies and Europe, I find his ideals and his pursuit of them phenomenal.

This blog will explore the history of Lafayette as well as the Revolutionary period of which he was a part. Because we want this blog to be of and for all of us, we hope you’ll join us on a journey of discovery. Ask me questions about Lafayette’s 1825 tour, and me and my team will work to answer them. Know something of Lafayette? Tell us what you find exciting about him and his place in history. In true Lafayette fashion, add to the historical conversation by challenging us and our world views. Make sure we heed Lafayette’s call for equality and take it one step further to equity, leaving no historical crevice unexplored.

But how, you might ask, is a blog about the Marquis de Lafayette relevant to today’s historic events? Next year marks the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s last visit to the United States. He did so at the invitation of Congress, as The Guest of the Nation. The invitation not only recognized how beloved Lafayette was in the United States, but it came with a very specific purpose.

What was that purpose, and why should we care?

That’s a question we’re posing to our first two Loudoun County Public High School Interns, Mia and Vishwanath. They’ve joined the AFL Loudoun team as junior members, and we can’t wait to share their work!

So let's journey together in celebrating 200 years since Lafayette’s final visit to the United States, Virginia, Loudoun, and 250 years since he joined the Revolutionary experiment.

Check back soon for Mia and Vishwanath’s posts and Vive Lafayette! -Laura