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The American Society of
Le Souvenir Français Inc.
Monthly Bulletin - Vol. VI, No. 4
April 2026
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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and
The Little Prince
In the United States
Special Edition
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Cover illustration:
Clay model of our future sculpture of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry holding the hand of Le Petit Prince, bronze, full-size, currently being created by sculptor Jean-Marc de Pas. Photo: © Jean-Marc de Pas, 2025
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Editorial
This Spring, we are proud to confirm that the real-size, bronze sculpture of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his Little Prince is now being created by sculptor Jean-Marc de Pas. In partnership with the France Florida Foundation for the Arts, it will be installed in the heart of Miami, Florida, in front of the entrance of the Frost Museum of Science and Planetarium, which will keep it on display for a minimum of thirty years!
If our previous sculpture of Le Petit Prince in front of the French Cultural services - Villa Albertine on Fifth Avenue, New York, is any guide, it will surely delight thousands of visitors and tourists of all ages from around the world.
Why, we are often asked, does Le Souvenir Français promote the famous author and his Little Prince? After all, this is a cultural endeavour, seemingly remote from our stated missions. Well, the answers are many.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was an aviation pioneer, celebrated author, and WWII hero who officially "Died For France" on July 31, 1944. His ties with America were numerous: his ancestors fought for American Independence, and he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He died at the controls of a Lightning P-38, with special authorization from the U.S. Air Corps — granted because he was past the age limit for flying these sophisticated reconnaissance planes, and indeed one of the oldest pilots of the entire war.
It was during his exile in New York, in 1942, that he wrote this masterpiece in its entirety. First published in the United States in 1943, The Little Prince went on to become the most translated fictional book in the history of literature after the Bible — now available in more than 600 languages and dialects — selling hundreds of millions of copies and delighting children and adults around the world with its timeless words of wisdom.
At this time, we plan to inaugurate this wonderful sculpture on Saturday, January 30, 2027. We thank all those who donated for this momentous project. However, we still need donations to fully complete this project, whichever the amount, small or large. All donors of $1,000 or more will have their name engraved on a Donors Plaque to be installed inside the museum.
Please plan to join us for the inauguration next year! More details are given further below.
Part Two of this Bulletin continues our tradition of honoring a particular American volunteer who fought and died for France. This month we will honor Corporal William Hallet Tailer, "Mort pour la France" on February 5, 1918 near Verdun, Département de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.
Part Three of this Bulletin is devoted to News and Save the Dates.
Finally, our General Assembly, originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, has been cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, May 7th, at the same time and on the same Zoom link (Scroll down to Part Three of this Bulletin for details). We will present a report on our past activities and upcoming projects through 2033, including several events of the war of independence up until its conclusion with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
Thank you for your continued support!
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Thierry Chaunu
President, The American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc.
Délégué Général du Souvenir Français pour les Etats-Unis.
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Sculpture at the
Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Miami
Tribute to the famous Children’s Classic
written in the United States in 1942
and its author
Antoine de Saint Exupéry
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Under the High Patronage of
His Excellency Mr. Laurent Bili
Ambassador of France to the United States
Generations of children -- and with them generations of adults -- have fallen under the spell of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince since its 1943 publication. Appearing in over 600 languages to date, it is the most translated book of fiction in the world after the Bible. Dozens of plaques and statues commemorate the Little Prince who touches down from his lonely planet to offer a bouquet of wisdoms to this world.
As an international city, very much a crossroads of the Americas, Miami surely deserves a monument to the Little Prince, that most endearing of cultural ambassadors.
The American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc., and the France-Florida Foundation for the Arts, both non-profit 501 (c) 3 organizations, joined forces to install a bronze sculpture of Saint-Exupéry and his most beloved creation at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. The sculpture will be installed on the esplanade near the museum entrance, in the heart of downtown Miami.
The life-size bronze sculpture designed by renowned artist Jean-Marc de Pas will depict the aviation pioneer, WWII hero, poet, and novelist Antoine de Saint Exupéry in his flight suit, holding the hand of his “petit bonhomme”. Another de Pas sculpture currently sits along a wall opposite Central Park on Fifth Avenue in New York City. It has been an overnight success with the public, who have lined up daily for photos since its 2023 inauguration. We expect the same in Miami, especially at a museum and planetarium frequented by so many families and young children.
This project, a gift to one of Miami’s most vibrant cultural institutions, has received the official endorsement of H.E. Mr. Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States and Mr. Olivier d'Agay, President of the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation and grand-nephew of the author of The Little Prince.
• The Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation, created in 2008 by the heirs of the author of The Little Prince and his admirers from the worlds of aeronautics and literature, carries out various projects around the world to improve the everyday lives of youth and to help them attain better futures.
• Villa Albertine is part of the French Cultural Services in Miami. Its mission is to develop a network for arts and ideas spanning France and the United States, with tailor-made residencies for global creators, thinkers and cultural professionals celebrating the vibrancy of Miami at the crossroads of the Americas.
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Why The Little Prince?
The Little Prince is beloved by children and adults alike. From his lonely planet, he made observations on mankind and is a universal symbol of peace and wisdom.
Facts:
• Most translated book of fiction in the world (translated into more than 600 languages and dialects to date!)
• Entirely written in the United States in 1942
• First published in English and French in the US in April 1943
• Antoine de Saint Exupéry's most successful work, selling an estimated 200 millions copies worldwide
• The Little Prince has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, and operas.
Why is our Society involved?
Short answer: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry had deep, lasting ties with the United States:
A celebrated author:
• Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was already a celebrated author here in the United States before WWII. He received prestigious literary recognitions in the U.S., including the National Book Award in 1939 for Wind, Sand and Stars (Terre des hommes)
• He wrote The Little Prince entirely in New York in 1942.
A WWII Hero:
• He left New York City in 1943 to join the fight in North Africa.
• He died on July 31, 1944, flying a U.S. P-38 Lightning on a reconnaissance mission authorized by the U.S. Air Corps — one of the oldest pilots of the entire war.
• His name is inscribed among all conscripts and volunteers from both nations who left the United States and who "Died for France", on the marble plaques at Eglise Notre Dame at Morningside, 405 West 114th Street in Manhattan.
A Patriot of both nations:
• Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's ancestor, Georges Alexandre Césarée de Saint-Exupéry (1757-1825), Count of Saint-Amans, joined the Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolutionary War. He took part in the taking of Pensacola and fought until the Franco-American victory in Yorktown on October 19, 1781.
• Antoine de Saint-Exupéry became a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in 1939. His nephews are now members of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Society of the Cincinnati.
Why Miami?
• Miami is the gateway city between North and Latin America — a natural fit for an author who pioneered airmail routes to South America as part of the legendary Aéropostale company. His name is memorialized in many places in Argentina and in the Andes.
• Consuelo, his wife and muse, was born in San Salvador. Born Consuelo Suncín Sandoval in El Salvador, she was a writer and artist who married Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1931. Possessed of extraordinary beauty, intelligence, and a bohemian spirit — exotic, capricious, and utterly captivating — she became his greatest muse and the primary inspiration for the Rose in The Little Prince: the prince's beloved flower, vain yet tender, fragile yet unforgettable, sheltered under a glass globe on his tiny planet.
• As one of the most visited and culturally diverse cities in the world, Miami reflects the universal appeal of The Little Prince — a book translated into more than 600 languages and beloved on every continent.
• The Frost Museum of Science and Planetarium, with its soaring dome evoking the stars and planets of the Little Prince's journey, provides a setting of rare poetic resonance.
• Miami's vibrant, multigenerational, and international audience ensures the sculpture will delight visitors of all ages and backgrounds — just as the book itself has done for over eighty years.
When a partnership with France-Florida Foundation for the Arts emerged, our respective Boards enthusiastically supported the project.
As the cultural crossroads of the Americas, Miami deserves a monument to The Little Prince — one of the most endearing cultural ambassador in the history of literature.
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In the heart of Miami...
...A stellar location!
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Above:
Top Left: sketch drawing © Jean-Marc de Pas 2025
Top Right: The esplanade and main entrance of the Frost Museum of Science & Planetarium
Photo TC © ASSFI 2025
Middle and Bottom: Imagery 2026 Airbus Maxar technologies, Map data 2026 © Google
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Future Site:
The Frost Museum of Science & Planetarium
• Situated on four acres of bayfront land in Downtown Miami's Maurice A. Ferré Park, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is one of only a few institutions in the world to house both a state-of-the-art planetarium and a major aquarium under one roof.
• Its striking campus, conceived by the celebrated firm Grimshaw Architects, features a free-standing spherical planetarium, a 500,000-gallon cone-shaped aquarium, and six floors of interactive exhibitions exploring subjects ranging from South Florida's ecosystems to the physics of flight and the mysteries of the universe.
• Neighboring the Pérez Art Museum Miami, it anchors Maurice A. Ferré Park as Downtown Miami's premier hub for science, art, and culture — welcoming visitors of all ages from across the city and around the world.
The Little Prince is beloved by children and adults alike. From his lonely
planet, he made observations on mankind and is a universal symbol of
peace and wisdom.
Fittingly, it will be installed on the esplanade in front of the Frost Museum of Science and Planetarium, in the heart of downtown Miami!
• Location: In front of the Frost Museum of Science & Planetarium, 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, facing the Pérez Art Museum Miami and overlooking Maurice A. Ferre Park.
• The bronze sculpture will be actual size, and affixed to the ground without a pedestal so that visitors can hold their hands and take “selfies”.
• Approx. weight 250 lbs.
• Anchored to the concrete floor with internal steel rods (hurricane-proof).
In addition to the sculpture, we plan to install:
• A bronze plaque will be affixed at the foot of the sculpture:
"The Little Prince and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Aviator, Author, and WWII Hero
Jean-Marc de Pas, Sculptor, 2025
Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science
France Florida Foundation for the Arts
The American Society of Le Souvenir Français"
• A donor plaque inside the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, listing donors of $1,000 or more, and commemorating the dedication ceremony with the names of the key diplomatic, state, and city officials in attendance.
• Additional option: an illustrated trilingual (English/Spanish/French) interpretive marker (National Park Service-style), located nearby, will introduce visitors to the life and legacy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: aviation pioneer and WWII hero serving in the French and U.S. Air Corps; first pioneer of airmail delivery to Argentina with Aéropostale; husband of Salvadoran-born Consuelo; and creator of the humanist values embodied by his universally beloved Little Prince.
The sculpture will create a welcoming space for visitors of all ages
— and a place of reflection for all.
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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:
A literary Giant
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Above:
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry writing (1940)
While serving, he drew upon his aviation experiences to write philosophical works pondering duty, time, and human connection.
It is part of a series of portraits captured by American photographer John Phillips (of Life Magazine) in Alghero, Sardinia. These images are particularly significant as they were taken just two months before his disappearance during a reconnaissance mission over the Mediterranean on July 31, 1944.
Photo: © Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation
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Who was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry?
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944) was a French aviation pioneer, author, and poet who gave the world The Little Prince — and died a hero, vanishing over the Mediterranean on his last reconnaissance mission.
In our March 2022 Bulletin: Tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, we narrated the highlights of his extraordinary life and accomplishments.
https://conta.cc/3uee2SK (original version in English)
https://conta.cc/37OCzGz (version en français)
We thank the Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation for sharing with us many photos and texts used in this Bulletin.
A Literary Journey
• Saint-Exupéry's first novella, L'Aviateur (The Aviator), was published in 1926 in the short-lived literary magazine Le Navire d'Argent (The Silver Ship).
• Following the publication of Courrier Sud (Southern Mail) in 1929, Vol de Nuit (Night Flight) stands as his second novel Initially released in France in 1931, established Saint-Exupéry as a rising star in the literary world.This work made its way to the United States in 1932, already translated into English and published by Desmond Harmsworth in London, quickly achieving the status of an international bestseller. Night Flight, which garnered the Femina Prize in France in 1931 and was selected as a Book of the Month Club choice in the USA in 1932, resonated significantly with American audiences.
In 1933, Clarence Brown, a Hollywood director renowned for his work with stars such as Greta Garbo, opted to adapt Night Flight for the cinema. The film, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, featured Clark Gable in the leading role.
• In 1931 he married Consuelo Suncín Sandoval, a Salvadoran writer and artist, with whom he would share a passionate and tumultuous relationship until his death. The couple met in Buenos Aires in 1930. Consuelo was a Salvadoran writer and artist who served as the inspiration for the rose in The Little Prince.
• Published in the United States in 1932 and 1933 respectively, Night Flight and Southern Mail are personal meditations on aviation and the human condition, remarkable for their honesty, clarity, and lyricism. Drawing on his own experience as a pilot, Saint-Exupéry transformed flying into poetry — and conjured the vast, arid inhospitability of the Sahara with rare beauty.
• Wind, Sand and Stars (Terre des hommes), his autobiographical account of his years as a pioneer mail pilot over the Sahara and South America, won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 1939 — an honor he traveled to New York to accept in person in 1941, having been unable to leave France at the time of the award. In it, he captured both the solitude and the deep human fellowship of life at the edge of the world.
“Fabien, the pilot bringing the Patagonia air mail from far south to Buenos Aires, could mark night coming on by certain signs that called to mind the waters of a harbor — a calm expanse beneath, faintly rippled by the lazy clouds — and he seemed to be entering a vast anchorage, an immensity of blessedness.”
(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Night Flight)
“Dune by dune the Sahara unfolded itself beneath the moon. Its light, falling on our foreheads with the pallor of a lamp which blends the softened forms, enveloped every object in its velvet sheen. Under our soundless footsteps the sand had the richness of a carpet.”
(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Southern Mail)
"So in the heart of the desert, on the naked rind of the planet, in an isolation like that of the beginnings of the world, we built a village of men. […] We told stories, we joked, we sang songs. In the air there was that slight fever that reigns over a gaily prepared feast. And yet we were infinitely poor. Wind, sand, and stars. The austerity of Trappists. But on this badly lighted cloth, a handful of men who possessed nothing in the world but their memories were sharing invisible riches."
(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars
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Above:
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry at the Rockefeller Center, July 13, 1939, Photo by Hirsch. You can sit on the very same, unchanged, marble bench...and listen to his interview on NBC at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0-XXtkr1SI
(photos and interview courtesy of Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation)
Bottom: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in front of his Lightning P-38, 1944 Photo: John Phillips, a Life magazine photographer, spent some twenty days with Saint-Exupéry in May 1944, while the author was stationed in Alghero, Sardinia. Just days before his final mission, Saint-Exupéry entrusted Phillips with the manuscript of his Letter to an American — later donated to the French government.
Read this short, very poignant, and prescient, letter by clicking the photo above or: HERE
© Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation
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The birth of The Little Prince:
• During the German invasion of France in 1940, Saint-Exupéry flew a Bloch MB.174 with the Groupe de Reconnaissance II/33 of the Armée de l'Air — a prestigious unit that lost 17 of its 23 planes flying behind enemy lines. He survived being shot down several times before France's armistice with Germany.
• Demobilized, he arrived in the United States on December 31, 1940 — not as a refugee, but as an advocate, determined to use his fame to persuade America to fight fascism and defend Western democracy. The Roosevelt administration, however, chose to recognize the Vichy Regime, appointing Admiral William D. Leahy as ambassador to Marshal Pétain's government.
• During his 27-month stay in North America, he drew on his wartime experiences to write Flight to Arras, published in New York on February 20, 1942. It topped the bestseller charts for six months. The French edition, Pilote de Guerre, was banned by the German occupation authorities — though the French Resistance printed clandestine editions in Lille and Lyon.
• On January 14, 1941, at a Hotel Astor luncheon attended by some 1,500 guests, he belatedly received his National Book Award for Wind, Sand and Stars, which had sold 250,000 copies.
• Saint-Exupéry had a well-publicized confrontation with Charles Lindbergh, who opposed American intervention in the war and had echoed pro-Hitler sentiments.
• Between 1941 and 1943, he and Consuelo lived in twin penthouse apartments at 240 Central Park South, a Long Island mansion in Asharoken, and a townhouse at 35 Beekman Place in Manhattan. He continued writing, gave lectures at the Lycée Français and the Institut Français, and famously took taxis giving directions in French — confessing that he had "not yet finished learning French" and saw no point in starting English.
• In April 1943, as the Allied campaign gathered momentum, he re-enlisted in the French Air Force in North Africa as a reconnaissance pilot. Before leaving New York, he appeared at his friend Silvia Hamilton's door in uniform. "I'd like to give you something splendid," he said, "but this is all I have." He tossed a rumpled paper bag onto her table — inside were the manuscript and drawings for The Little Prince. She later sold them to the Morgan Library in 1968.
The story follows a young prince who travels from planet to planet across the universe, eventually reaching Earth, exploring timeless themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss along the way. Deceptively simple in its style, The Little Prince offers profound observations about life and human nature that resonate as deeply with adults as with children.
The Little Prince, this little boy who became an icon, whose adventures in the desert and asteroids have entertained and educated children and adults around the world, will grace the entrance of the Frost Museum.
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A renowned sculptor:
Jean-Marc de Pas
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Above:
Jean Marc de Pas sitting next to his Little Prince, in his studio and in his magnificent “Sculpture Garden” at the Bois-Guilbert estate in Normandy, which is open to the public and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Click on the photos or visit: http://www.lejardindessculptures.com for more information.
Photos: © Jean-Marc de Pas 2023
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Jean-Marc de Pas,
a Prince among sculptors
• Jean-Marc de Pas, sculptor, was born in Rouen in 1962. Doctor in art and art sciences, graduated from the Beaux-arts de Paris and the Ecole Boulle, he opened his studio in 1989 in Bois-Guilbert in Normandy.
• In his work, he seeks harmony of lines, grace, the expression of an inner state. For nearly 40 years, he has also produced numerous monumental works
installed in public spaces. He experimented with many registers. His favorite
material is earth, which is malleable; his works are then edited in bronze or in
composite materials.
• His vast 7-hectare poetic space, a Sculpture Garden, is an hymn to
Life and Nature, with 70 permanent works of art lining the walk around the
family chateau, Jean Marc's childhood home, where he opened his studio in
1989. The garden is open to the public and has been awarded the
“Remarkable Garden” label by the French Ministry of Culture.
Next time you visit the beautiful region of Normandy, it is a highly recommended stop. For more information, visit:
www.lejardindessculptures.com
www.jeanmarcdepas.com
• Saint-Exupéry’s work has always inspired Jean-Marc de Pas. He has created about ten works based on *The Little Prince*.
Prior to the sculpture in New York, he sculpted the bust of Antoine de
Saint Exupéry, exhibited at the Air & Space Museum of Le Bourget.
“I have always admired the work of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. His writings have nourished and inspired me with their humanity. In 1995, I wanted to create a portrait of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in his plane, looking down at the earth. In the early 2000s, a meeting with Igor S., who was staying in Bois-Guilbert, led me to design plans for a poetic sculpture garden in Russia, as a tribute to the writer-pilot.
We then reached out to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s family to present this project to them. I have since been deeply moved by the bond formed with the family and the initiatives they are undertaking to spread Saint-Exupéry’s humanist values throughout the world, particularly among young people.”
• Our Steering Committee also wishes to recognize and express our thanks to Jean-Marc's wife, Stéphanie de Pas, who has supported the project from Day One — bringing tireless enthusiasm and dedication to the complex administrative tasks carried out from France.
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Other sculptures and sites of memory
The Little Prince
in the United States
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Above:
Sculpture, Le Petit Prince
French Cultural Services – Villa Albertine
Villa Albertine – Services Culturels 972 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10075
GPS: 40.776600, -73.963895
Our sculpture of The Little Prince by Jean-Marc de Pas in front of Villa Albertine - Services Culturels
972 Fifth Avenue, New York , dedicated September 20, 2023 by Mrs. Catherine Colonna, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, with our bronze plaque next to the sculpture. Anonymous admirers often leave a bouquet of roses on The Little Prince's laps.
Photos: top: © Jean-Marc de Pas 2023 and middle: TC © ASSFI 2024
Below: Reception at Villa Albertine on November 24, 1924, to thank the donors:
The d'Agay Family • Jean-Hugues & Véronique Monier • Rémy Raisner • Henry & Elisabeth Gazay • Pierre-Olivier & Alexandra Bouée • Gildo Pallanca Pastor • Lionel & Jinus de Saint-Exupéry • Association of French Reserve Officers in the United States • Foreign Trade Advisors • Thierry Chaunu • Francis Dubois • Jean-Paul Guyon • Jean & Geneviève Rosanvallon • Stacy Schiff • Patrick & Nancy du Tertre, in the presence of Mr. Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Attaché and Director of Villa Albertine.
Photos: TC © ASSFI 2024
The names of the Grand Donors for the Miami sculpture ($1,000 and up) will be engraved on a similar plaque inside the Frost Museum of Science & Planetarium
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Genesis of our New York sculpture
• This sculpture owes much to the founder and first president of our Society, Colonel Roger Cestac (1925–1997). From the very beginning, in 1994, he had the vision of honoring Antoine de Saint-Exupéry with a sculpture of Le Petit Prince in New York. Together with fellow admirers of the author, including Howard Sherry, he dreamed of installing it in "Poets' Alley" in Central Park. Alas, this proved unfeasible for a variety of reasons — and, in a further blow, Colonel Cestac passed away in a tragic accident on the Upper East Side. His widow, Françoise Cestac — Honorary President of our Society and a distinguished former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations — carried the torch, determined to make the sculpture a reality.
• When a new Board was elected in 2021, the project was immediately set as a priority. A pivotal step came with the generous approval of Olivier d'Agay, President of the Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, grand-nephew of the author, and holder of the rights to Le Petit Prince. The project then took shape through the energy and dedication of the entire Board — notably Jean-Hugues Monier, who swiftly and successfully led the fundraising effort, Francis Dubois, former High Commissioner of the United Nations, who greatly helped to promote the project, and Brigitte Van den Hove-Smith, Regional Delegate for the Southeast, who introduced the talented sculptor Jean-Marc de Pas. Throughout, the Society benefited from the steadfast support of Nicolas Delsalle, General Delegate of the Fondation Saint-Exupéry Pour la Jeunesse, and the gracious support of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff, whose Saint-Exupéry: A Biography (1994) remains the definitive account of the author's life.
• Finally, all the stars aligned when H.E. Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, Jérémie Robert, Consul General of France in New York, and Gaëtan Bruel, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy and Director of Villa Albertine, graciously authorized the installation at a most fitting location: the entrance of Villa Albertine on Fifth Avenue, directly across from Central Park and just steps from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The sculpture quickly became one of the most beloved Instagram destinations in Manhattan. Not a day passes without tourists pausing beside it to reflect, take photographs — or leave an anonymous bouquet of roses in its lap (see photo above).
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Our bronze plaque
3 East 52nd Street, New York
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Above:
Plaque honoring Antoine de Saint-Exupéry at 3 East 52nd Street, across from the Cartier Mansion, a few steps from Fifth Avenue
Photos: TC © ASSFI 2025
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• The American Society of Le Souvenir Français installed a bronze plaque to honor French Air Force pilot, poet and author Antoine de Saint Exupéry (1900-1944).
• Saint-Ex,' as he is fondly known in France, was a frequent visitor to the New York studio of his friend André Lamotte, an artist whose workspace occupied the second floor of this building. Downstairs, a bar called 'Le Bocal' served as a beloved gathering spot for the French expatriate community. As far back as 1936, French and American celebrities would come together in Lamotte's studio to socialize — and leave their mark. Stars carved their signatures into his wooden table, among them Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Grace Moore, Marlene Dietrich, Jean Renoir, and Jean Gabin. Saint-Exupéry himself carved his name three times — one of which depicted a Little Prince.
The building later became home to La Grenouille, for decades one of New York's most celebrated French restaurants. It is now occupied by Yanghe Tasting Lounge, a Chinese haute cuisine establishment."
Plaque Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
3 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022
GPS: 40.75963, -73.975586
• Inscription:
ANTOINE DE SAINT EXUPÉRY
POET-NOVELIST-AVIATOR
JUNE 29, 1900 JULY 31, 1944
During World War II, in the studio of his artist friend, Bernard Lamotte, France’s legendary author-aviator wrote chapters of his universal beloved tale
“The Little Prince”
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye”
Durant la seconde guerre mondiale, dans le studio de son ami l’artiste Bernard Lamotte, le légendaire auteur-aviateur écrivit des chapîtres de son roman connu du monde entier
“Le Petit Prince”
American Society of Le Souvenir Français
October 2000 "
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Sculpture and historic home
Northport, Long Island
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Above:
Left: Statue of the Little Prince in front of Northport, L.I., Public Library
atlasobscura.com/places/the-little-prince-statue-northport-new-York
Right: The "Bevin House", a.k.a. "The Little Prince House", Photo by Hixguy1 - Own work, Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6750201
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• In memory of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's presence in Northport, a statue of the Little Prince, the work of Winifred S. de Witt Gantz, was unveiled on September 16, 2006, in the courtyard of the municipal library.
Statue ”The Little Prince”
North East Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave, Northport, NY 11768
GPS: 40.8957744, -73.337549
• Inscription:
" In gratitude to
Mrs. Yvette Cariou O'Brien,
born and raised in Paris, France,
and longtime resident of Northport,
whose imagination, devotion
and perseverance made possible
this statue of The Little Prince,
with the kind authorization
of the Saint-Exupéry Estate.
September 2006 "
• Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his wife Consuelo moved into this large wooden residence in the early months of 1942. Built in 1862 by a wealthy New York shipowner, the house is Victorian in style and has 22 rooms. Antoine set up his office on the ground floor, in a room with a huge bow window. He left the rest of the house and the roof terrace to Consuelo, who organized parties in which French and foreign artists and men of letters participated.
• Antoine worked on “Citadelle” and on a certain children's story… which he finally decided to illustrate himself, unconvinced by the overly elaborate drawings of his friend Bernard Lamotte.
• Now nicknamed "La Maison du Petit Prince", the manor house (a private residence) has undergone extensions by the new owners.
Bevin House - “The Little Prince House”
76 Bevin Road, Asharoken, NY 11768 Northport, Long Island
GPS: 40.934637, -73.378492
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Original manuscript of
The Little Prince
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
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Above:
Left: Manuscript and drawings of The Little Prince, Pierpont Morgan Library, NY
Antoine de Saint Exupéry (1900–1944) Le petit prince [1942 ca. July-Oct.], 280 x 215 mm, MA 2592 Purchased on the Elisabeth Ball Fund, 1968
Right: A drawing by Saint-Exupéry at the Morgan Library & Museum.
© Estate of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Morgan Library & Museum, New York
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The Morgan Library & Museum holds the original manuscript and drawings of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, one of the most cherished literary works of the twentieth century. Since its publication in 1943, The Little Prince has left an indelible mark on its readers around the globe as the world’s most frequently translated non-religious book.
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 685-0008
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Saint-Exupéry
in Argentina
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• Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s life is closely linked to Argentina. Between 1929 and 1932, he served as the first pilot and director of a branch of the local Aéropostale, known as “La Aeroposta Argentina.”
• It was during these years that he wrote his famous novel *Night Flight*, which won the Prix Femina in 1931 and was inspired by his experiences flying over South America.
• Furthermore, several significant events marked his time in various cities across the country. At the Alliance Française in Buenos Aires, he met his great love and future wife, Consuelo Suncin. In Concordia, the capital of the province of Entre Ríos, he met two little girls who inspired him to write *The Little Prince*. Finally, in Mendoza, he searched for and found his companion and friend, the aviator Henri Guillaumet, who had been lost in the Andes Mountains following a plane crash.
• On June 15, 2022, to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s arrival in Mendoza on June 15, 1930, the Honorary Consul of France, Ms. Charlotte Panouille, presented a commemorative plaque to the manager of the Hyatt Hotel. It was at this establishment, formerly known as the Hotel Plaza, that the aviator stayed during his time in Mendoza. Henri Guillaumet is also mentioned on the inscription.
This commemorative plaque was created with the financial support of the General Delegation of Le Souvenir Français in Argentina.
• It is also a shared passion for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the heroes of the Aéropostale that has brought together, once a year in Argentina since 2017, two friends: our Board Member Jean-Hugues Monier of New York, also General Delegate of Le Souvenir Français for Argentina, and Jean-Paul Guyon of Lausanne (Secretary General of Le Souvenir Français in Argentina, and also a Donor of our NY sculpture) who spearheaded the installation of this memorial pictured above in Mendoza, Argentina.
• On February 2, 2023, a monument commemorating the reunion of the two aviators was unveiled in the presence of the French Consul General, Patrick Renard, the Honorary Consul of Mendoza, Charlotte Panouillé, and the Mayor of San Carlos, Rolando Scanio. Funding for the monument was provided by French patrons.
• This triangular sculpture, symbolizing Laguna del Diamante and the Andes and created by Argentine artist Carlos Escoriza, was erected at the exact spot where the two pilots met and where Guillaumet confided to his friend who had come to his rescue.
“What I did, I swear to you, no beast would ever have done.”
This phrase would be quoted, ten years later, by Saint-Exupéry in his book *Terre des hommes*.
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Please join our Donors!
We welcome supporters of all ages
— and contributions of all sizes!
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Above:
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, © Editions Gallimard,
https://madparis.fr/A-la-rencontre-du-petit-prince-2120
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Please contribute what you can—and inform us if you know any organizations or individuals who might be able to make significant donations.
As of today, we have raised $80,000, but we still need funds to bring the project to life next January. Individual or corporate donations are actively sought!
- Any amount for the sculpture of Le Petit Prince and Antoine de Saint Exupéry in Miami (with $1,000, your name will be on the Donors plaque inside the Museum)
- We are an IRS-qualified 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Dues and/or donations are tax deductible. Donations of $250 or more automatically include membership for 2026
Please send your donation (specify: Petit Prince)
by ACH wire to:
The American Society of Le Souvenir Français Inc.
TD BANK - 1031 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Routing # 026013673 - Account# 4326011741
or by check, made payable to:
The American Society of Le Souvenir Français Inc.
500 East 77th Street #2017, New York, NY 10162
or via PayPal:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WP5E5SCTBTFMN
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Le Petit Prince
A universal symbol of wisdom
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Above:
Illustration: © Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation
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... A few citations (proposed) on a marker nearby:
• “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
• “Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for
children to be always and forever explaining things to them”
• “If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night. All the stars are a-bloom with flowers...”
• “When someone blushes, doesn't that mean 'yes’?”
• “Only the children know what they are looking for.”
• “All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.”
• "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."
• "People where you live grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for."
• "To forget a friend is sad. Not everyone has had a friend."
― Antoine de Saint Exupéry, The Little Prince
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Meet us in Miami!
Official inauguration
January 30, 2027 (TBC)
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Above:
The Little Prince by sculptor Jean-Marc de Pas - Inauguration at Villa Albertine, French Cultural Services
972 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY on September 20, 2023
From Left to Right: Nicolas Delsalle, General Delegate, FSEJ, Jérémie Robert, Consul General of France in NY,H.E. Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, Ms. Catherine Colonna, French minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olivier d'Agay, president, FSEJ, Maxime Carrard (impersonating as Le Petit Prince), Thierry Chaunu, president ASSFI, Jean-Marc de Pas, Board member ASSFI, Francis Dubois, Board Member ASSFI
Photo: Matthieu Guillot, French Embassy
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Under the High Patronage of
His Excellency Mr. Laurent Bili
Ambassador of France to the United States
and
Mr. Olivier d’Agay, President of the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation and grand-nephew of the author of The Little Prince ©
Honor Committee (in formation):
Co-Presidents :
Mrs. Stacy Schiff, 2000 Pulitzer Prize
Author of Saint-Exupéry: a Biography
&
Mr. Olivier d’Agay,
President, Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation
and grand-nephew of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Hon. Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County • Hon. Eileen Higgins, Mayor of Miami • Mr. Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Counselor of France in the United States • Mr. Raphaël Trapp, Consul General of France in Miami • Mr. Nicolas Doyard, Cultural Attaché, Villa Albertine Miami • Mr. Mitchell Kaplan, Founder, Books & Books, Miami • Mr. Craig Robins, Developer of the Miami Design District and Design Miami, and CEO of Dacra
• Shortly after the inauguration of our New York sculpture, Brigitte Van den Hove-Smith — who had introduced us to sculptor Jean-Marc de Pas — suggested we consider creating another tribute, this time in Miami, where she also serves as a Board member of the France-Florida Foundation for the Arts, presided over by Melissa Patrylo. Our respective Boards enthusiastically approved the project, and a Miami Steering Committee was established. A few months of preparation later — it is now in orbit!
Steering Committee
(alphabetical order):
Jean-Jacques Bona* (President, Essence Corp.) • Patricia Bona* (Alliance Française Miami Metro) • Thierry Chaunu, (President, ASSFI) • Jean-Marc de Pas, sculptor • Stéphanie de Pas • Nicolas Delsalle (General Delegate, Fondation Saint Exupéry Pour la Jeunesse) • Francis Dubois (Board member ASSFI) • Kimberley Gaultier (French Consulate Miami) • Jean-Hugues Monier (Board member, ASSFI) • Melissa Patrylo (President, FFFA) • Brigitte van den Hove-Smith (Regional Delegate, ASSFI, and Board member, FFFA)
• We will recognize Jean-Jacques and Patricia Bona in a special way, as their support — along with that of their family on both sides of the Atlantic — has been decisive to the fundraising drive.
• We will also acknowledge our gratitude to the Alliance Française of Miami-Metro and Corporate Donors, as well as keeping you apprised of the sculpture's progress in our upcoming bulletins.
Save the date January 30, 2027!
— and join us in Miami!
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PART TWO
Tribute to the American Volunteers
who joined the Lafayette Flying Corps:
Every month, we are paying tribute to an American volunteer who fought for France, freedom and democracy. This month, we honor:
Caporal William Hallet Tailer
"Mort Pour la France"
February 5, 1918
at Montzéville (55 - Meuse, France)
Note*: "Mort pour la France" meaning "Died for France," is a legal term in France. It is an honor given to men or wome who lost their lives in conflicts while serving the country. This phrase appears on their death certificates. Both French citizens and foreign volunteers can receive this recognition.
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WILLIAM HALLET TAILER
Died for France on February 5, 1918, in Montzéville, near Verdun (55 - Meuse, France)
Born on February 3, 1895, in New York (United States)
Died at the age of 23 years, 0 months, and 2 days
Rank: Corporal
Unit: Foreign Legion Marching Regiment (RMLE), Class 1918
Recruitment Office: Seine Central Office (75)
Recruitment ID: LM12366
Official Designation: "Died for France"
"TAILER'S progress through the schools was brilliant, and when, on December 14, 1917, he was sent to the Escadrille Spad 67, of the famous Groupe of Cigognes, he seemed assured of an equally brilliant future. Less than two months later he was buried at the Front.
A friend, writing in the columns of the Paris Herald, said of Tailer: "He was as fine a type of the rising generation of Americans as you could wish to meet . . . endowed with one of the rarest natures, a cheerful spirituality which looked only on the bright side of life. Billy . . . was a member of the . . . 7th Regiment, passed some time on the Mexican Border, and afterwards passed into the Aviation Service, where he made extraordinary progress. It seems but yesterday that he left his home to take his first lessons in the new art. . . . He was one of many in the village of Roslyn to volunteer for service. . . and is, I think, the first of these to go."
On February 6, 1918, the day after Tailer's death, another Lafayette man, attached to the Cigognes, wrote: "Yesterday William H. Tailer of Spad 67 was killed while flying patrol over the lines. As the Captain made a virage he saw Tailer's machine fall nose down and go into a vrille from which he never pulled out. Some officers on the ground saw him fall. At about a thousand meters he lost both wings and the plane crashed about three kilometers back of the lines. No one can say definitely what happened . . . they were being shelled by German anti-aircraft. The consensus of opinion is that he must have been hit. I am trying to have a firing squad of U.S. Regulars to render the last military honors. First Phil Benney and now Bill Tailer . . . two of my best friends and two of the finest boys who ever lived."
Source - Google books "The Lafayette Flying Corps, Volume 1" by James Norman Hall, Charles Nordhoff, Edgar G. Hamilton, Houghton Mifflin publisher, 1920.
• Burial:
Lafayette Escadrille Memorial
Marnes-la-Coquette, Département des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France
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PART THREE
NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & SAVE THE DATES
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The American Friends of Lafayette
Chuck Schwam & Robert W. Kelly, Jr
honored with the
Ordre National du Mérite
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A Well-Deserved Honor for Two
Of our Members and Friends
We are thrilled to announce that two of our most dedicated partners (and members of our Society) will be awarded the Medal of "Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Mérite" on June 10 at the residence of the French Ambassador in Washington D.C.
Chuck Schwam, Executive Director of the American Friends of Lafayette (above left) , and Robert W. Kelly, Jr., its Vice President, (above right) have each given so much to the cause of Franco-American friendship, and this distinction is richly deserved.
Chuck Schwam has been a driving force within the AFL for more than fifteen years. As Executive Director, he led the organization's remarkable 24-state Farewell Tour in 2024–2025 — a logistical tour de force that engaged forty state and local committees across the country. He also played a pivotal role in raising funds for and installing the Lafayette and Rochambeau statues in Yorktown, Virginia. More recently, Chuck launched the highly popular — and free — AFL Speaker Series (see below) and helped develop the Lafayette in France travel program, bringing our shared history to life for new audiences.
Robert W. Kelly, Jr. has been an AFL member since 2014 and has served as Vice President since 2019. He has been a key architect of annual events such as Virginia Lafayette Day (March 14) and coordinated numerous special occasions throughout Lafayette's Farewell tour Bicentennial celebrations. Last but not least, Robert was instrumental in helping us install our two interpretive markers in 2022 and 2023 at Riverwalk in Yorktown, as well as our granite memorial to the French hussars at Gloucester in 2024.
Please join us in congratulating Chuck and Robert on this wonderful and well-earned recognition!
The Lafayette Speaker series
In September of 2025 we had two events where all three Lafayette interpreters attended: Ben Goldman, Michael Halbert and Mark Schneider. They gave insights regarding their work as interpreters and discussed the incredible job they did during the Bicentennial of Lafayette's Grand Tour. Now you can hear what they have to say as well:
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On Thursday, April 16th at 7:30pm EST,
AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL HALBERT.
Please find the Zoom link here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84584744814
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On Tuesday, April 28th at 7:30pm EST,
AN EVENING WITH BEN GOLDMAN.
Please find the Zoom link here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85952262589
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On February 12th, 2026, Lin-Manuel Miranda was interviewed at Lafayette College by college president, Nicole Hurd.
Please enjoy the recording of this interview by clicking: HERE
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Society of Honor Guard / Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
100th Anniversary
March 25, 2026
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Above:
Top Left & Right: A wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring 100 years of a U.S. Army Soldier guarding the Tomb at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., March 25, 2026.
Bottom: Richard A. Azzaro (Badge No. 19), founding member of the Society of the Honor Guard - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier speaks with Cpt. Sean Paul Stolarski, current Commander of the Tomb, following a ceremony honoring 100 years of a U.S. Army Soldier guarding the Tomb at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., March 25, 2026
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100 Years of U.S. Army Soldiers
Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Arlington National Cemetery , Va, March 25, 2026
On March 25, 1926, soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards, present only during daylight hours, discouraged visitors from climbing or stepping on the Tomb.
100 years later, the Tomb Guards celebrated their 100th anniversary.
This year marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — a solemn milestone that invites us to reflect on the extraordinary men and women who have guarded it without interruption since 1926.
The Tomb Guards at Arlington National Cemetery — formally known as the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — represent the highest ideal of military dedication and honor.
Selected from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," they undergo one of the most rigorous qualification processes in the entire U.S. Army.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in rain, snow, or scorching heat, without a single interruption since April 6, 1948, a Tomb Guard walks a precisely measured 21-step path before the Tomb, pausing for 21 seconds at each turn — a number symbolizing the highest honor the nation can bestow. Their uniforms are immaculate, their bearing flawless, their devotion absolute. Many are young men and women of junior enlisted rank, yet they carry themselves with a gravity that transcends age or experience.
To earn the Sentinel's badge is considered one of the most prestigious distinctions in the U.S. military.
For one hundred years, they have stood watch not over a name — for the soldier beneath is unknown — but over an idea: that no American who gave their life for their country shall ever be forgotten.
It is, in every sense, a sacred duty.
Le Souvenir Français has embodied these same values in France since 1887, and our Society here is dedicated to honoring the French soldiers, sailors, and airmen buried in the United States, so that they are never forgotten.
We have been humbled and privileged to work with Richard Azzaro (pictured above), Co-founder and President of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Foundation and Co-founder and Past President of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on many commemorations and shared projects, as our readers know.
Most recently, our Society is proud to sponsor a rekindling of the flame at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on May 13, when a delegation of Tomb Sentinels will lay a white rose at the tomb of the French Unknown Soldier.
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An Atlantic crossing
from Brest to New York by sailboat
to celebrate 400 years of the French Navy
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The École navale, which trains tomorrow's French Navy sailors at its Lanvéoc-Poulmic site in Finistère, Brittany, and its American counterpart, the United States Naval Academy (USNA), will cross the Atlantic in May 2026. It is organized as part of the 400th anniversary of the French Navy and the 250th anniversary of American independence.
We are issuing an urgent appeal to our supporters and Franco-American companies to contribute to the success of this project, which will culminate on July 4 in front of the Statue of Liberty.
Click above to help make this crossing a reality!
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From the Fondation
Josée & René de Chambrun
Paris
International Symposium
April 20-21, 2026
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Upcoming inaugurations
2026
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Re-dedication of the
Lapérouse Memorial
and inauguration of our Society's marker
Maui, Hawaii
May 2026 (date to be announced)
| | This restoration of the lava rock monument and installation of the marker would not have been possible without the constant support of Marc Onetto, West Coast Regional Delegate. We will announce the exact day of the rededication ceremony (most likely in May 2026) in our next Bulletin! | | |
Inauguration
The Rochambeau Monument Project
Meadowview Park, Middlebury, CT
June 27, 2026
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Middlebury’s Role in the American Revolution
The Rochambeau Monument Project is a major initiative of the Middlebury Historical Society, commemorating a pivotal moment in our town’s Revolutionary War history.
Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the start of the Revolutionary War, the monument honors the French troops who marched through Middlebury in 1781 under the leadership of General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau. Their presence was part of the critical French-American alliance that helped turn the tide of the war. More than 2,000 of these soldiers died in the fight for American Independence.
It is now confirmed that the Memorial Park and statue will be inaugurated on Saturday, June 27, 2026. More details to follow.
As Ms. Alice DeMartino, Board Secretary of the Middlebury Historical Society wrote:
"What makes this monument especially distinctive is that it does not portray a general or statesman— instead, it honors the French foot soldiers themselves: the men who marched, suffered, and in many cases died for American independence. Their courage and sacrifice are too often overlooked. Our project includes a major fundraising effort, a commissioned sculpture by Tony Falcone, and educational materials for the public".
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Saturday, October 7, which was attended by our 1st Vice President, Col. (H) Patrick du Tertre. He paid tribute to both nations’ shared struggle for liberty, declaring, “Our duty today is to protect this heritage, to cherish and defend all that unites us—for the good of the world and of the next generations.”
The Middlebury Historical Society need your help!
We invite you to visit our dedicated website to learn more:
https://www.middleburyhistoricalsociety.org/
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Inauguration of marker honoring
Capt. Louis d'Ohicky Arunder
First French officer Volunteer killed
of the American Revolutionary War
Gwynn Island, VA.
July 9, 1776 - 2026
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It is confirmed!
On Thursday July 9, 2026, at 10:00AM, at Morningstar Marinas, 249 Mill Point Rd, Hudgins, VA 23076 we will inaugurate a bronze marker funded by our Society honoring Capt. Louis d'Ohicky Arundel at a ceremony organized by the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, exactly 250 years later after the tragic death of the first French casualty of the War of Independence. Virginia and French Embassy officials are being invited. More details will be forthcoming.
In our March 2025 Bulletin, we publicized an article written by Mr. Patrick Hannum published in the Journal of the American Revolution of February 26, 2025.
https://allthingsliberty.com/2025/02/cricket-hill-and-gwynns-island-captain-arundels-only-fight/
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Inauguration of our
Memorial to French Navy Sailors
Riverwalk, Yorktown, VA
October 18, 2026
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In 2022, we installed an interpretive marker dedicated to Admiral de Grasse explaining the crucial role
of the French Navy 1778-1783. It has been seen by thousands of tourists on the Riverwalk, a few steps from the 4 sculptures of General Washington, Rochambeau, Lafayette and admiral de Grasse.
We have received the authorization from Yorktown authorities to install a granite memorial "to the Memory of 3,520 French Navy sailors who lost their lives for American independence", who do not have tombs as there are resting at the bottom of the ocean. We have received the support from the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution. The inauguration is planned for October 18, 2025, on the eve of the 245th anniversary of the joint French-American victory.
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Inauguration of a Memorial
honoring 4 soldiers of the
Royal Deux-Ponts
Odell Rochambeau Museum
Greenburgh, NY
Fall 2026
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Our granite memorial honoring 4 Soldiers of the French Army who died in the vicinity while American and French troops camped side-by-side will be inaugurated this Fall. This was the site of Rochambeau's headquarters from July 6 to August 19, 1781, and the site where Rochambeau and George Washington met to adopt the winning strategy to march to Yorktown.
The names of the 4 Soldiers of the Royal Deux-Ponts Regiments engraved on the memorial are:
David Petter, ✝︎ July 18, 1781
Antoine Houllier, ✝︎ July 31, 1781
Adam Steel, ✝︎ July 14, 1781
Johannes Anneury, ✝︎ August 9, 1781
At this time the dedication is planned for September or October 2026.
A date will be announced by Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters and their president Susan Seal.
Click on the photos above to watch the video produced by the Odell Rochambeau Museum, "Dear France, thank you"
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Members in good standing are cordially invited
to participate to our Annual General Assembly
via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89461547332
Meeting ID: 894 6154 7332
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89461547332# US (New York)
+16469313860,,89461547332# US
Join instructions: HERE
- No need for prior registration, however in order to be let in and to vote, you need to be current with your 2026 dues as per our by-laws.
- Agenda:
- Opening of the meeting and welcoming remarks
- Proposal and adoption of the agenda submitted
- Review of Past Year Activities: President’s general report (submission for adoption) and Financial report by the treasurer (submission for adoption)
- Open Forum for Member: Questions and Suggestions
- Closing Remarks
If you have not done so already....
Please renew now your Membership for the year 2026!
Whether you are renewing, joining us for the first time, or after an absence, we send you our warm greetings of welcome.
Your contribution is essential to our activities!
- $ 25 for Veterans and Students
- $ 50 for a membership ($80 for a couple)
- $100 for a Supporting Level membership
- $150 for a Benefactor Level membership
- $250 donation for the 'America250 special fund' (installation of a bronze plaque at Gwynn Island, VA)
- $500 donation for our granite memorial at Riverwalk, Yorktown, VA to honor the 3,250 French sailors who died at sea for the independence of the United States (1778-1783)
-
Any amount for the sculpture of Le Petit Prince and Antoine de Saint Exupéry in Miami (with $1,000, your name will be on the Donors plaque inside the Museum)
- We are an IRS-qualified 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Dues and/or donations are tax deductible. Donations of $250 or more automatically include membership for 2026
Note: We heartily thank those who responded to our last bulletin. If you joined in the final quarter of 2025, your membership is automatically extended through the entirety of the calendar year 2026.
The list of our activities, achievements, projects, is extensive and can be discovered on our site: www.SouvenirFrancaisUSA.org as well as our monthly Bulletins.
Please help us promote the historical ties between France and the United States. We thank you for your membership and any donations you may make to help us promote our missions and values!
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You can send your Membership or donation
via PayPal:
https://souvenirfrancaisusa.org/donate/
(100% secure - no need to have an account with PayPal - major credit cards accepted)
or
By check, payable to "American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc"
Mailing address:
Yves de Ternay, General Secretary
5650 Netherland Avenue #4G Bronx NY 10471
You will receive a Membership e-card, a donation receipt,
and
a unique link to access our compilation of French sites in the U.S.A.
(a $19.5 value)
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The 3rd edition of Memories of France (Revised & Augmented) is now available on Amazon documents 3,000 sites of French presence across all 50 states and five centuries of American history, up from 2,000 from the previous edition.
Join us and receive a special link to access a free PDF special version !
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OUR MISSIONS:
• To preserve the memory of the French soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives for freedom, and who are buried in the United States.
• To honor French Citizens who did great deeds in the United States, or with a strong connection with the United States,
• To promote the appreciation for French culture and heritage in the United States, and the ideals that unite our two nations, in order to pass the torch of memory to younger generations.
• To strengthen the long-standing traditional bonds of friendship between the American and French peoples, and to this end: erect or maintain memorials and monuments and encourage historical research, public presentations and publications in the media.
The American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc. is an independent American corporation, apolitical, established in 1993 in NY, with 501 (c) 3 non-profit status.
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Board of Directors
2025 - 2028
Directors:
Françoise Cestac, Honorary President • Gabriel Chalom • Thierry Chaunu, President • Yves de Ternay, General Secretary • Patrick du Tertre, 1st Vice President • Francis Dubois • Alain Dupuis, 2nd Vice President • Daniel Falgerho • Dr. Patti Maclay, M.D. • Domitille Marchal-Lemoine • Mathias Maisonnier, Treasurer • Clément Mbom, 3rd Vice President • Jean-Hugues Monier, Auditor • Patrick Pagni • Harriet Saxon
Regional Delegates:
Jacques Besnainou, Great Lakes and Midwest • Bruno Cateni, South
Prof. Norman Desmarais, New England • Alain Leca, Washington D.C. •
Marc Onetto, West Coast • Brigitte Van den Hove – Smith, Southeast
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MONTHLY BULLETINS
OUR AIM: To turn the spotlight on a famous, or less famous, episode or historical figure during the long shared history between France and the United States, with illustrations and anecdotes.
You can have access to our past monthly Bulletins
(in English and French) at: www.SouvenirFrancaisUSA.org
Click on the illustrations on each page for further access to sources and references
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The American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc. is a registered NY State non-profit corporation and has full IRS tax exempt 501(c)3 status. All donations are tax deductible.
Copyright © 2026 The American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Merci de nous contacter si vous souhaitez recevoir ce bulletin dans sa version traduite en français.
Contact: Thierry Chaunu, President
Email: tchaunu@SouvenirFrancaisUSA.org
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