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French ambassador reviews historic trail - 26 July, 2009
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Robert Marchant
rmarchan@lohud.com
DOBBS FERRY - The French ambassador to the U.S. gave his endorsement to a historical heritage trail that passes through Dobbs Ferry yesterday, part of a larger effort to enhance federal funding for education, tourism and historical preservation in the region.
The trail, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, which was recently approved by the House of Representatives, marks the journey between Rhode Island and Virginia where patriot forces joined with French troops and ships to finally defeat the British in 1781 and win independence for the U.S. Gen. George Washington met with Gen. Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau of France in Dobbs Ferry to work out the bold strategy that led to victory.
Ambassador Pierre Vimont called the trail a symbol of the countries' long relationship.
"It's the visible part of a remarkable historical adventure," Vimont told a crowd of 100 people at a small park off Route 9. "It set up the foundation for an everlasting friendship, and it's up to us to keep it alive."
And while French-American relations have included a fair share of quarreling, the mood was friendly and upbeat between the French diplomat, local residents and two congressional delegates who have worked on the legislation behind the Washington-Rochambeau trail, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, and Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison. French flags fluttered in the breeze, and the ambassador was given the full VIP treatment by local officials and residents.
Vimont said the work between French and American military leaders in Dobbs Ferry more than 200 years ago continues in joint ventures around the world, including Afghanistan. He made a point of mentioning French efforts to "work together on tracking terrorist forces." Vimont stopped at the site of Washington's headquarters in Newburgh earlier in the day.
The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route will give communities along the way access to funding and resources from the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Parks Service. Village leaders in Dobbs Ferry, and Village Historian Richard Borkow, have been pushing to have Dobbs Ferry identified as one of the key locations on the route.
Dobbs Ferry Mayor Scott Seskin said he hoped the attention to the heritage trail could provide a small boost to the local tourism trade, and give young people a better understanding of how the Revolutionary War played out in their own town.
Hinchey said he wanted to ensure that the Revolutionary history of the Hudson River Valley "was preserved and promoted in commemoration of the historic contribution this area has made to the past, present and future of our country."
Image: French Ambassador to the U.S., Pierre Vimont, right, greets Revolutionary War re-enactor Dave Holloway on Saturday at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in the City of Newburgh. (Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON)
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