Senate enacts Sen. Deschambault bill to commemorate the Lafayette Trail
AUGUSTA – On Friday, July 2, the Maine Senate voted to enact a bill from Sen. Susan Deschambault, D-Biddeford, that would mark and maintain markers of the Lafayette Trail in Maine. LD 267, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Erect and Maintain Markers To Commemorate and Recognize the Lafayette Trail,” received unanimous, bipartisan support.
“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. “I’m so glad this bill received such strong support from my fellow legislators.”
Lafayette Trail, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) 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.
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.
“History – whether our country or our state history – needs to be preserved and nurtured. Projects like the Lafayette Trail can serve to bring that history to life, create pride in the local community and educate our young,” said Beverly Robbins, who is the State Regent of the Maine State Organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution, when testifying in support of the bill in February.
LD 267 now goes to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.
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