U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Sandberg
The French frigate l’Hermoine arrived off the Virginia Capes yesterday where she was greeted by the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher. l’Hermoine is scheduled to visit Yorktown, Va. on June 5 on her twelve port East Coast tour. The ship is a replica of the frigate l’Hermione which carried the Marquis de Lafayette to America 1780 with the news of French support for the American revolution.
l’Hermione arrived on the American coast very close site of the Battle of the Capes (also known as the Battle of the Chesapeake) of 1781 in which a French fleet commanded by Rear Admiral François Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse, defeated a Royal Navy fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves. The French victory at helped to ensure the victory of American and French forces in the Seige of Yorktown.
Would like to go see her, but the farthest south she’s going to be is still a pretty long haul from Florida. Bienvenue, l’Hermione!
very much looking forward to seeing her in Philly at month’s end!