November 1st, 2023
Dear Friends,
The purpose of this mail is to introduce you to a very special ship, the Hermione, the ship which brought Lafayette back to America in 1780 and the exact replica which was built in 2014 and is now being repaired to come back in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American independence.
In 1780, General Lafayette boarded the ship Hermione with news for George Washington and the Congress that France would officially support the American cause by sending a French expeditionary force and Naval squadron to assist America in their war of independence against the British empire. The Hermione was a 32-gun frigate from the French Navy. Designed for speed, she was one of the first ships of the French Navy to receive a copper sheathing. Speed was vital to avoid the Royal Navy blockade of the American ports. Lafayette did reach Boston on April 27, 1780.
The following year, the French assistance helped Washington defeat the British at the battle of Yorktown, essentially ensuring the Americans their freedom. This victory was vigorously supported by France, with money, guns, clothing, ships, and soldiers. The Hermione went on to serve the cause of American Independence with several successful combats and missions, until her return to France in 1782. Because of her role in history she became known, forever, as THE FREEDOM FRIGATE.
In 1997, The Hermione-Lafayette Association started to build an exact replica of the Hermione in the city of Rochefort in western France where her ancestor had been built. Using the same tools and 18th century technology, it took 18 years to build (the original took one year) this majestic 214 feet long, 1322 tons ship. Finally completed, the Hermione made its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 2015, was formally welcomed by the US navy, and visited many of the historical revolutionary sites.
In total the Hermione made 14 stops up the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada. Thousands of people came out to tour the ship and meet the crew at each stop. The Hermione also organized an 11-stop sail to the Mediterranean in 2018 and then a trip around Normandy in 2019. Not only did these voyages provide educational programming for visitors, but also experience for the crew. The crew were taught the expertise of sailing an 18th century frigate and were rotated during each voyage for maximum exposure to this forgotten skillset. It was a win for everyone.
However...
In May 2021, the Hermione's crew noticed damage on planking located at the rear port side. After further inspection and analysis, the frigate was found to be a victim of a slow growing fungus. The frigate is now in dry dock in Bayonne in southwest France and is subject to a major repair, including the replacement of some key elements of the hull such as frames and stringers as well as 20% of the outside plankings. This heavy operation also requires the removal of some of the 220 tons of ballast to clear the bottom, the removal of the rudder, and the taking down of all her masts.
As a symbol of the Franco-American alliance and a tool for education on both sides of the Atlantic, the Hermione MUST sail again. Consequently, we are starting this most important fundraising campaign.
At the heading of this email there is a web link to take you straight to the donation page. Also below is a QR code with the same link. This link will take you straight to the web site of the Friends of Fondation de France, a 501 (c)3 organization which is authorized to collect and direct US-tax deductible donations directly to the Hermione in France. Also, for those of you who wish to donate from a Donor Advised Charity Fund, on the web site is a widget to guide you in this process.
Thanks to your generosity, the Freedom Frigate will sail again!…
Thank you,
Thierry Chaunu, President & Marc Onetto, Regional Delegate, West Coast
American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc.
