Just Life| Lafayette statue

It was a cold December afternoon in Paris. It was getting dark and I couldn't find a taxi for us to get to the hotel so we were walking briskly along the Seine River hoping to get to our hotel before dark.

As we were walking, we noticed a monument right next to the sidewalk. It was the statue of a man on a horse. There was a plaque and it said that the statue was a gift from the American school children to France. The statue was depicting Lafayette.

Picture from www.waymarking.com

Since it was getting dark, we didn't linger too long. I told myself that I should look up the history behind it. Three years later, I am still trying to find out some more info about that statue.

Picture from www.waymarking.com

I came across a New York Times article dating back to July 5, 1900 that was referring to the unveiling of this statue in Paris on July 4th, 1900 in Paris.

The ceremony was attended by the French President and the American Ambassador. 2000 people attended this event.

"The monument was unveiled by two boys representing school children of France and America." One of the children was no other than Lafayette's great grandson.

I also came across this article from the Chicago Tribune dating January 20, 1954 referring to this statue saying that it was purchased by collecting pennies and small changes from the American School children. 

According to this article, the statue was " a gesture of gratitude to France for her gift of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor."

Five million American school children donated to this cause. The statue was the work of the American sculptor Paul Wayland Bartlett.

Ari in front the statue of Lafayette.

This statue is located on the right bank of the Seine, between Bridge Alexander III and the Bridge Des Invalids.

I still don't know who started this idea but that was for sure a great gesture.

Signing off until next Monday- Panteha