Bastille Day Celebration and Flag Raising

Written By: Talk of the Sound News

The New Rochelle Sister City Committee, in celebration of New Rochelle’s founding by the Huguenots 320 years ago, will conduct a Bastille Day celebration honoring France’s national holiday on July 14, 2008. 9:30 a.m., in front of City Hall.

The event will feature raising of the French flag, singing of the “Marseillaise” and a brief address by David Osborne, Site Manager of St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon, on the topic of “Thomas Paine and the French Revolution.” Paine was in France during the Revolution and wrote “The Rights of Man”, a document respected throughout France.

All welcome, especially French citizens in our area and New Rochelle Huguenot descendants who are invited to introduce themselves and their Huguenot family name.

Following the ceremony, a small reception will be held in the City Hall rotunda. For further information, contact Sister City Convenor Peter A. Korn, 235-1979.