July 2, 1779, a 22 year old Frenchman by the name of Johannes (Jean) Claudius Schledorn enrolls in the legion of Lauzun and engages as a light horse soldier in Lauzun's 1st squad of Hussars.

The adventure and duty that follows brings the calvary soldier to North America to fight with George Washington and the American rebel forces against the British in the American Revolutionary War. On July 11, 1780 he lands as part of a 5,500 man, 5 frigate strong French Naval Fleet in Newport, Rhode Island called the Expédition Particulière.

What follows for this young man as part of Rochambeau's forces takes him through several battles in support of the revolution, and eventually to the siege of Yorktown in Virginia where he witnesses the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in October 1781. Later, under the Americanized name of John Slator, he is one of the few people who is present at the signing and framing of the United States Constitution, and is honorably discharged as an American Patriot on May 9, 1783.

John Slator, originally of Alsace, France, settles as an American citizen pioneer in Donegal, Pennsylvania, is my 6th Great-grandfather, and the earliest member of my family in the United States.

Several months before John Slator's arrival in Rhode Island in 1780, a French frigate called Hermione arrives in Boston on April 28, 1780. On board is the Marquis de Lafayette, who brings secret news of the Expédition Particulière and coming 5,500 soldiers to support Washington. It marks a significant partnership in the Revolutionary War and one of the significant tide turning moments of the major conflict.

Just 235 years after Hermione's arrival in Boston, an exact replica of Lafayette's tall ship sailed up the Potomac and docked in Old Town Alexandria at the base of Cameron Street for all to see. Her name, L'Hermione.

The ship is the culmination of a 20 year effort to recreate the famous ship that was shipwrecked in 1793. The entire ship is a hand built and completely custom reproduction using materials and methods traditional to the French shipbuilding trade of the late 18th century.

With significant help from donors and sponsors from around the world, and the expert craftsman responsible for creating this ship from a group of enthusiasts' vision, L'Hermione was completed and embarked on an historic voyage that has taken her from France to America to celebrate and honor the original ship's historic voyage and the historic and important relationship that exists between France and the United States.

L'Hermione is in the midst of several stops up the east coast, having recently docked at Mt. Vernon and soon to head to Annapolis, departing Alexandria at midnight Friday evening and into Saturday morning.

She'll ultimately continue up the east coast with several more stops including Newport, Rhode Island and Boston between July 8-9 and 11-12, the 235th anniversary of my 6th Great-grandfather's arrival in America.

Wendy, Lulu, and I ventured down to check out this majestic ship and all I have to say is "Wow!"

We've had other tall ships dock in Old Town from time to time, but this is easily the most impressive in so many ways. 

The size of the ship alone is amazing. Three masts and taking up the entire dock on lower Cameron, it's a sight to behold.

On the dock around the ship a related "village" has been setup to provide information about L'Hermione and her unique construction, journey, and significance.

Additionally, there's a tent showcasing the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and the boat building work they're doing in their floating dockside wood shop. I love walking by their doors and looking in on what they're working on.

From a personal standpoint the sight of this ship docked in Old Town, this amazing place where we've chosen to live, makes me beyond happy. And the fact she's docked in front of the Torpedo factory, one of the places that helped supply the weaponry responsible for helping France during WWII, only reinforces the role each country has played in support of one another.

But beyond the overall significance of the ship and location, the personal link is something I don't often experience. It's rare to feel this sort of a link to a relative who lived over 200 years ago and travelled such an amazing journey. And it's a unique and special experience to see something sail into a seaport harbor that's changed so much over the years, while so many aspects of it have fortunately remained the same.

Even some of our Old Town neighbors have begun flying the French flag while L'Hermione is docked, letting her crew know how welcome and appreciated they are as they walk our historic streets.

If you're around Old Town today and have an opportunity to head down to the Torpedo Factory, make sure you do, as it's not to be missed. 

L'Hermione will be docked throughout the rest of the day and will be setting sail at midnight Friday into Saturday morning, June 12 into the 13th, so your time is limited. But Alexandria will be celebrating the city's connection to France throughout the weekend, so there will be plenty to see and do.

 

As she leaves she'll be ushered out by reenactors and much pomp and circumstance, including the opening of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (which is a big deal for traffic).

I do hope you have the opportunity to visit L'Hermione, if not in Old Town, perhaps at one of her other stops on the voyage. Be sure to check out the whole schedule to see if there will be a time and place that can work for you.

And perhaps she'll make a return trip to our area, but this time in fewer than 235 years. But until then, I'm happy we were fortunate to have the opportunity to witness this voyage.