Historic Lafayette Trail marker unveiled at Heritage Port

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) – A historic celebration for ‘America’s Fighting Frenchman’ was held at Heritage Port today to unveil a Lafayette Trail marker on the banks of the Ohio River.

Lafayette is known for being a major general in the Revolutionary War in the army of George Washington.

However, he made a 13-month tour of the U.S. fifty years later in 1824 to 1825 dedicated to protecting the principles of the American Revolution, and making sure those would be passed on to future generations of Americans.

He became the embodiment of the American Revolution, and this marker commemorates his visit to Wheeling on May 24 ^th , 1825.

”It’s very meaningful to tell the story of this man because he believed that everyone was born with rights that were unalienable. This is a man that preached the greatness of the United States in a different political culture in Europe for the rest of his life, sometimes even at the expense of his own life and the safety of his family.”

Julien Icher – Founder and Presdent, Lafayette Trail Inc.

The ceremony was held in collaboration with the Wheeling and Woodburn chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

It was also dedicated to Debi Smith, a dedicated member of the Wheeling Chapter who passed away earlier this year.

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