Gov. Mills signs Sen. Deschambault bill to commemorate the Lafayette Trail

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, July 8, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a bill from Sen. Susan Deschambault, D-Biddeford.  LD 267, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Erect and Maintain Markers To Commemorate and Recognize the Lafayette Trail,” will allow the Department of Transportation to make and maintain markers of the Lafayette Trail in Maine.

“Recognizing the Lafayette Trail in Maine is part of an effort all over the Eastern Seaboard to recognize the historical significance of Marquis de Lafayette, who helped secure French support for American independence and fought alongside Americans during the war,” said Sen. Deschambault. “Almost 200 years after Lafayette’s trip to Maine, I’m proud to play a role in preserving local history and promoting Lafayette’s legacy.”

Lafayette Trail, Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the mission to document, map and mark Gen. Lafayette’s footsteps during his Farewell Tour of the United States in 1824 and 1825, which was the 50th anniversary of the American Revolution. According to Lafayette Trail, Inc., Lafayette visited 25 states, including Maine.

On July 13, 1824, Lafayette left France on the Cadmus, an American merchant vessel, and embarked on his two-year trip of America as the “nation’s guest.” During Lafayette’s trip to Maine, he stopped in South Berwick in June 1825. After that, Lafayette stayed at the Cleaves Hotel in Saco. Then, at Spring’s Tavern on Spring Island in Biddeford, Lafayette dined with Capt. Seth Spring, who was a veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The law will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

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