Yorktown

Back in 2003, the French took a lot of heat for not supporting the U.S. invasion of Iraq. I remember Congress protested their lack of support by renaming their cafeteria French fries "freedom fries" [Source: BBC]

So when Gary Trudeau's May 4 Doonesbury addressed the issue, I remember feeling relief that someone still had some sense. [Source]

Gallophobes typically suffer from amnesia -- they remember only what the U.S. has done for France in this century, and ignore the French aid that had preceded it. General Pershing's staff, during World War I, captured the essence of this history with the phrase, "Lafayette, we are here." [Source]

Though ultimately the French were compelled by their interests to render assistance, their naval cooperation with our ground forces proved essential to ending the Revolutionary War, and Yorktown is testament to this.

Along the James River coast, there's a statue of Admiral de Grasse talking with George Washington.

A miniature of De Grasse's flagship, the Ville de Paris, is on display at the Maritime Museum, as is artwork of his victory in the Battle of the Virginia Capes.


Even today the earthenworks from the 1781 battle are visible, bearing witness to the joint victory at Yorktown.

It's a shame that our long-standing relationship with France is perceived to be so one-sided. It certainly wasn't viewed that way before.