SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. — The legacy of the Marquis de Lafayette—French hero of the American Revolution and global champion of liberty—was celebrated in a moving public ceremony held yesterday at the Schuyler House, part of Saratoga National Historical Park.

The event, co-hosted by the Saratoga 250 Commission and Saratoga National Historical Park, honored Lafayette’s enduring impact on democracy and human rights during his 1824–1825 Farewell Tour of the United States. Attendees heard historical toasts, scholarly insights, and witnessed a wreath-laying ceremony that reflected the international ideals Lafayette championed in both France and America.

“As an alumnus of Lafayette College, I learned so many interesting things about the Marquis yesterday that I had never realized,” said Steve Bulger, Saratoga 250 Commissioner. “It was a great crowd, and a powerful history lesson.”

A Legacy of Liberty

The program was led by Sean Kelleher, Town of Saratoga Historian and Vice Chair of the Saratoga 250 Commission, who served as Master of Ceremonies. Kelleher shared a series of authentic toasts from 1824, originally proposed at a dinner in Lafayette’s honor at Orange Court House, Virginia. Among them:

“The Heroes and Sages of the Revolution: Hallowed be the memory of the dead; happy the days of the living.”
“The Infant Hercules who strangled the two serpents—at Saratoga and Yorktown.”

He was joined by Eric Schnitzer, National Park Ranger and military historian, who presented new research into Lafayette’s lesser-known activities in Albany in 1778. Schnitzer detailed Lafayette’s abandoned plans to lead an invasion into Canada due to limited resources, and his diplomatic efforts alongside Major General Philip Schuyler to foster peace with the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy.

Garrett Cloer, Program Manager for Interpretation and Visitor Experience at Saratoga National Historical Park, concluded the presentations with a reflection on Lafayette’s 19th-century advocacy for universal liberty. Cloer emphasized Lafayette’s commitment to the abolition of slavery, the expansion of civil rights, and his lifelong dedication to what he called the “rights of man.”

Honoring Lafayette’s Values

The ceremony closed with a wreath-laying tribute honoring Lafayette’s transatlantic vision of freedom. Participants included members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, the Grand Lodge of New York’s Masonic delegation, and the Saratoga 250 Commission.

“This event worked beautifully because of the shared commitment from all our partners,” said Kelleher. “It flowed naturally, thanks to a deeply professional park staff.”

Ian Murray, Town of Saratoga Supervisor, emphasized the event’s significance for the local community. “This ceremony not only honored Lafayette’s remarkable legacy but reminded us that the Town of Saratoga remains a place where history is alive and meaningful. We’re proud to support efforts that connect our past to the future.”

A Semiquincentennial Moment

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, the Saratoga 250 Commission continues to coordinate events that spotlight the diverse people and ideals that shaped the American Revolution. This weekend’s Lafayette commemoration served not only as a tribute to one of the Revolution’s most celebrated figures, but as a reminder that the fight for freedom—in 1777 and beyond—was global, inclusive, and deeply personal.

For more information and future events, visit saratoga250.com and go.nps.gov/saraevents