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MURFREESBORO – Town officials here joined with the American Friends of Lafayette on Wednesday in celebrating the bicentennial of the farewell tour of the United States by Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who played a significant role in securing the independence of the 13 colonies from England during the Revolutionary War.

Witnessed by a standing-room-only audience inside the Murfreesboro Municipal Building, Mayor Hal Thomas read a proclamation, signifying the importance of the historic occasion, which took place on Feb. 26, 1825.

“During that war, Lafayette became one of George Washington’s most trusted Major Generals,” Thomas noted. “In the Battle of Yorktown, Lafayette played a major role, ending with Cornwallis’s surrender and a decisive American victory that caused the British Government to acknowledge the United States of America as a sovereign nation.”

In the proclamation, Mayor Thomas stressed the importance of recognizing Lafayette’s principles of “democracy for all” as well as paying homage to the bicentennial of Lafayette’s farewell tour.

“I further proclaim Feb. 26, 2025 as Lafayette Day in the Town of Murfreesboro as a time to remember, appreciate, and celebrate General Lafayette for his service to our nation,” Thomas said.

Dr. Sam Powell of Burlington, dressed in period clothing from 1825, portrayed Lafayette at Wednesday’s event. Powell’s words echoed those of Lafayette during his visit to Murfreesboro 200 years ago.

“The affectionate manner that I have been received arouses in my heart the most intent emotions of pleasure and gratitude,” Powell said. “I thank you for your kind hospitality.”

Jimmy Moore, president of Murfreesboro Historical Association, gave a brief history lesson of Lafayette’s visit to Murfreesboro. He credited that history to a book written by Thomas C. Parramore entitled “The Ancient Maritime Village of Murfreesboro, 1787-1825.”

Moore stated that in late February of 1825, Murfreesboro officials and citizens had only 24 hours advance notice of Lafayette’s visit. They worked at a feverous pace to make things ready, including erecting an evergreen covered archway, lit by torches, on Broad Street and preparing a banquet, featuring food and music, at the Indian Queen Inn.

However, Mother Nature threw the local organizers a curveball.

“Rains that continued intermittently during Friday night and Saturday made Lafayette’s progress from Suffolk (Virginia) slow and tedious,” Moore noted. “It was already long after dark on Saturday evening, February 26th, when Lafayette, who had boarded Mr. Southall’s carriage at Maney’s Ferry on the Chowan River, crossed Hill’s Ferry, a few miles below Murfreesboro. Approaching the town, the carriage started over Figures’ Creek at what is now Worrell’s Mill and sank up to the axle in soft mud.”

A few hours later, the carriage was freed from the mud and Lafayette made his way into Murfreesboro where a cheering crowd greeted the fabled visitor. Thomas Maney, a local judge whose ancestors had come from France more than 100 years before, gave the official welcome to Lafayette.

At Tuesday’s event, Moore played the role of Judge Maney, saying, “We have heard that at the darkest period of our struggle for National existence, you generously came to our assistance, and with a disinterestedness above all praise, arrayed in our ranks the force of your influence and the power of your arm. We know that with no other inducement than an ardent attachment to liberty, and a generous devotion to her cause, you bled and conquered by our side – and sir, we have been taught to believe that to you, next to our great Washington, we are indebted, for the triumph of our arms. These are the recollections which warm our hearts with an intenseness of interest in your welfare – these are the benefits which fill the measure of our gratitude – these are the virtues which command our admiration and applause.”

History has preserved Lafayette’s remarks after the 1825 welcome to Murfreesboro. Dr. Powell read Lafayette’s words from 200 years ago.

“Let the present generation be infused with the sacred obligations that have been imposed on it by our forefathers who have given us the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said. “It remains to us to share and to convince preservation of the benefits we possess. The spirit of the times indicates to us the path we have to pursue. In a time of peace, let us dream of advancing the useful arts, let us develop the resources of our land, let us cultivate a true spirit of union and harmony. And in pursuing these great objects, let us act always with the feeling and the conviction that the 24 states are united as one nation. And with the blessing of God, may our nation offer an example of wisdom, peace and liberty that it holds the attention and admiration of the world.”

Chuck Schwam, executive director of American Friends of Lafayette and the National Bicentennial Chair, brought greetings from both organizations.

Schwam said that the Lafayette Bicentennial Tour began in August 2024 with stops along a corridor from Massachusetts to Virginia.

“What’s really cool about today is we’re finally in a new state,” he said. “We’re moving south and we can feel the love here.”

By the time the 13-month tour ends, Schwam noted it will have covered 6,000 miles across 24 states.

He emphasized the three goals of the American Friends of Lafayette: commemorating Lafayette’s visit in 1825, celebrating his life and legacy as a relentless champion of human rights, and educating the public regarding Lafayette’s importance to our nation’s history.

He thanked the Murfreesboro Historical Association, the Historic Murfreesboro Commission, and the Town of Murfreesboro for taking part in such a historic occasion.

“As we remember Lafayette’s critical role in helping to achieve our country’s independence from Great Britain, we also remember his brave comrades in arms,” Schwam stated. “Members of the Hertford County Regiment and Militia took part in the Battle of Great Bridge and Hillsborough. Their service and sacrifices are certainly not forgotten.”

Also participating in the event were Donald Somers of Graham, who portrayed Lafayette’s secretary August Levasseur, and Dan Topping of Raleigh. Topping is responsible for organizing all of the Lafayette Bicentennial celebrations scheduled in North Carolina. Both men were dressed in period clothing.

At the close of the ceremony held at the Municipal Building, which include the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner and La Marseillaise – the French National Anthem – a reception was held across the street at Hertford Academy.