BY SHELLEY DRAKE HAWKS
Courtesy of private collection.
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Road. Upon his arrival, the Old On Monday, September 2, 2024 (Labor Day), Concord Chapter of Daughters of the Lafayette reenactor Benjamin J. Goldman American Revolution will greet him with will come to First Parish in Concord, a wreath-laying ceremony. Vermont Superior commemorating the day and site where Court Judge Samuel Hoar, a descendant of the town gave the French general a hero’s the antislavery politician and attorney Samuel welcome two hundred years ago. Though the Hoar (1778-1856) who presided over the First Parish Meeting House was different in 1824 ceremony, will reenact his namesake’s 1824, the adjacent Wright Tavern, built in 1747, speech. Tom Wilson, Chair of the Wright is largely the same. When Lafayette arrived, it Tavern Legacy Trust, will read from the was no longer a tavern but a bakery. Francis letter that President James Monroe wrote to Jarvis’ bakery operated out of the Wright Tavern and supplied fresh bread for Lafayette’s Lafayette initiating the Farewell Tour. The reenactment is just the beginning banquet on the lawn. This year, the Wright of the commemoration. Guests will move Tavern opened its doors as a gathering space. indoors to the First Parish sanctuary where American Friends of Lafayette, a national a seated program, recorded and organization leading this 24-state livestreamed on Zoom, will focus reenactment, asked the Wright on Lafayette’s antislavery Tavern Legacy Trust to and human rights provide a local program advocacy. Historian to commemorate Robert Gross will draw Lafayette’s stop in from his 2021 book Concord. Transcendentalists and The public is their World to provide warmly invited to insight on Lafayette’s assemble on the 1824 trip to Concord. lawn of First Parish to Jen Turner, Executive watch a reenactment Director of the Robbins of Lafayette’s visit to House, will speak on Concord at 3:00 this Lafayette’s transformation into Labor Day. The celebration an abolitionist. Sam Williams, is family-friendly and free 1824 silver medal with Lafayette on one side Executive Director of Concord of charge. Escorted by the (shown) and Washington on Prison Outreach, will honor Concord Militia playing fife the other, commissioned Lafayette’s humanitarianism and drum, “the general” to celebrate Lafayette’s by reading an original poem will begin his journey at the Farewell Tour of America. addressing our contemporary Concord Museum’s parking 14.5 mm. Struck from times. Williams will invite lot and proceed to the lawn dies by Joseph Lewis. audience members to write of First Parish via Lexington
Lafayette sulphide paperweight, about 1820-1840.
Concord Museum Collection. Gift of Mrs. Louis A. Sohier; G299.
Lafayette Comes to Concord — You are invited!
their own reflection on today’s issues and insert it into a time capsule to be opened one year later at the Wright Tavern. Anderson Manuel, Gospel Choir Director at First Parish, will lead guests in inspirational songs. A reception will follow at the Wright Tavern, featuring French cuisine, in honor of Lafayette’s commitment to liberty and equality and the indelible bond of friendship between the American and French people. Following his military service in America, Lafayette lobbied friends and fellow soldiers to live up to the American ideals they fought for. He dedicated himself to ending slavery. In a letter addressed to his daughters and granddaughters, Lafayette wrote: “there is only one point to which I decidedly cannot resign myself: that is, slavery and the antiBlack prejudices.” (April 15, 1825) Historians credit Lafayette’s repeated urgings as the reason why Washington emancipated the enslaved people on his plantation in his will. Upon returning to France, Lafayette became a central figure in the fight for a constitutional order; but during the Reign of Terror, he had to flee the country to avoid arrest. Austrian authorities intercepted and jailed Lafayette for five years. Imprisonment did not embitter Lafayette but rather, broadened his sense of empathy to include the incarcerated. Come join us for this unique townwide celebration of Lafayette’s legacy! —————————————————————————— Shelley Drake Hawks is a board member of the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust.
*This article made possible through the support of the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust
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Discover CONCORD | Fall 2024