Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de la Fayette was the first person ever to receive an honorary American citizenship.  This man; born in the highest level of French aristocracy, with a promising career as a French army officer and a member of the French court, turned away from all of this to join with George Washington at Valley Forge and help our fledging nation win its independence from Great Britain. He actually purchased supplies for the ragged American army with his own funds. He convinced the king of France to send money, French troops and the French navy to assist Washington in his struggle against Cornwallis. Without the actions of Lafayette the American revolution might well have been lost.

In spite of being wounded during the retreat at Brandywine he sallied forth and organized the inexperienced American troops into a successful withdrawal, thus saving hundreds of American lives.

Layfette had become a close and dear friend of Washington and remained so until Washington’s death.

Layfette was buried in Paris underneath soil from Bunker Hill.  To say he was a fantastic American is certainly an understatement.