Castine Current
MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE'S FRIGATE, L'HERMIONE, IN CASTINE
By LAURIE SToNE, EDIToR
Photo by College Relations.
onBastilleDay,July14th,thetownof es:talships,severalsmalsailboats,cruisers, MMA,andaneventplanningorganization,
Castine welcomed the replica of the
powerboats, and kayaks. Among the guests
CARSLA, worked for several months to coor-
Marquis de Lafayette's frigate, L'Her-
awaiting L'Hermione's docking were Governor
dinate al the activities. Five lectures were giv-
mione, a Concorde-class ship with a crew of
Paul LePage, the French Consul (from Bos-
en in MMA's Delano Auditorium and a private
80. Lafayette arrived in Boston in 1780 with
ton), Mayor of Saint Castin, France, Arthur
dinner was hosted on the MMA Waterfront as
a message from the French government that
Finzi, Vice Chief of the Penobscot Nation Bil
wel as a private lunch organized by the Mount
France would help the newly formed Ameri-
Thompson, tribal historian James Francis, and
Vernon Society. Dr. Elizabeth True, Vice
can government.
tribal elder Charles Shay. The Castine Town
President for Student Services and Enrol -
July 14th provided a typical thick Maine fog
office estimates that over 2,500 people were in
ment Management, and Ryan Kuhl, Director
so that the L'Hermione appeared ghost-like
attendance for a parade, the Scottish Highland
of Campus Safety, represented MMA on the
when she broke through. The blue and yellow
Regiment reenactment at Ft. George, and to
coordinating team. Altogether, approximately
216-foot-long frigate was escorted from the
see the magnificent ship.
10,000 visitors came to see the ship during its
fog into the sunlight by MMA's schooner Bow-
The entire town pulled together to welcome
two-day stay in Castine.
doin and nearly 100 boats and ships of al siz-
L'Hermione. The Castine Historical Society,
mainemaritime.edu
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