Forgotten hero: Exhibit honors Lafayette

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | 17 Nov 2007 | Richard Pyle

[BuffaloJack]

Let’s not forget Lafayette, Georgia (about 15 miles or so from Chattanooga, TN)

[metesky]

It was a rotary for as long as I remember, which is only back to the late forties. Before that I don’t know.

[Joe 6-pack]

"If you go to Lafayette, Georgia, be advised that the locals pronounce it “luh-FAY-et,” not “la-fa-YET.” We talk funny down here."

Over in Loozeana it's "LAUGH-ay-yet."

[ops33]

Its amazing what you can find when you did up the old genealogy and military records. I have records showing a member of my family has served in every American war from th Revolution, to the War on Terror and Iraq. My son reports for basic training at Ft. Sill on January, 9.

[Caipirabob]

That is awesome! I would recommend that you have your family join one of those "Sons of the Revolution" or "Daughters of the Revolution" organizations. Here's a sample of qualifications:Sons of the Revolution - Florida

[CutePuppy]

I, for one, still get chills up my spine when I think of some of the brave adventurers from other nations who fought in our Revolution, with names like Pulaski, von Steuben, Kościuszko, and, Lafayette. None of them had any personal stake in what happened here on the other side of the Atlantic, but they nonetheless fought, bled, suffered, and died to bring into being this republic we're so fortunate to be a part of today.

Well said, Sir, thank you! Alexander Hamilton was another very young immigrant (born in West Indies, to French mother) who became close friend and aide of George Washington, but he is deservedly well known.

Another "Hero of the American Revolution", Haym Salomon (1740-January 23, 1785), who is also almost forgotten today but should not be. I learned about him by sheer accident, but like the other, somewhat better known patriots, he appears to have been very important to the fate of United States.

One sculpture dedicated to him has this inscription:
"Let All Americans Acclaim Haym Solomon, a Patron and Benefactor of His Country, and Incitor to Patriotism to Members of His Race, to His Countrymen, and to Later Generations. It Looks as Though his Credit was Better than that of the Whole Thirteen United States of America."
Albert Bushnell Hart. Professor Emeritus of History-Harvard.
Robert Paine - Haym Salomon 1740-1785 American Patriot

In 1975 the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Haym Soloman for his contributions to the cause of the American Revolution. This stamp was uniquely printed on the front and the back. On the glue side of the stamp, the following words were printed in pale, green ink:

"Financial Hero - Businessman and broker Haym Salomon was responsible for raising most of the money needed to finance the American Revolution and later to save the new nation from collapse."

Many Historians have said that without his contribution to the cause "there would be no America today".

Some interesting facts about him in these links:

Haym Salomon: The rest of the story

Haym Salomon (1740-1785)

Haym Salomon: Financier of the Revolutionay War

Interesting Facts about Haim Salomon and a Dollar Bill

(56 pages book text or scanned image, link to PDF download)