Players in the reenactment gathered for photos following the welcome speech. Re-enactors included, from left: Catherine Oag-Miller, Jeff Crossley, Brenda Johnson, Graham Tedesco-Blair, Mike Lee, Mike Ferguson, Gail Dash, Max Walters and Bonnie Larkin. Photo by Jo Ward

WARREN — Warm weather returned gratefully to the village of Fredonia on Tuesday just in time for the 200th anniversary reenactment of the visit of Gen. Marquis de Lafayette during his Farewell Tour put on by then President James Monroe.

Many gathered at Barker Common to watch as the Rev. David Brown welcomed the esteemed French general of the American revolutionary war to the village.

Prior to the actual reenactment, dancers from Infinity Dance Academy entertained those gathered to watch. Also included was a drum and fife corp put on by students of the Fredonia Central School ensemble and youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

Lafayette rode in on a horse-drawn carriage as the players prepared to re-enact the historic event.

“We will suffice to tell you how much we admire you,” Brown began. “We greatly admire your character. We admire the brilliant luster of your heroism as a volunteer in the righteous cause of liberty. We rejoice in the opportunity to acknowledge your undisputed claims to the gratitude and the admiration of the world. We love you, sir, as our old friend and our father’s friend.”

“My dear sir, please accept my sincere thanks for your most affectionate address,” Lafayette responded. “I cannot express my happiness at the kindness of your reception, that the ladies too, should remain up all night to receive me in Fredonia is too much.”

Lafayette, portrayed by Mike Lee, then went on to share his admiration for the turnout.

“The manner of my reception here is truly among the handsomest tributes ever paid me and I beg you, sir, with the committee who have shown me every kindness to accept my grateful acknowledgments I’m fully sensible of the kindness and affection thus expressed to me by the people of this part of your state and I assure you, sir, it affords me much pleasure to take you by the hand and return to you a hearty thanks for the respectful manner and in which you have all been please to communicate your feelings toward me I am very truly happy to find myself again in this patriotic state of New York I am happy to see you all assembled and it is my most sincere regret that the circumstances render it necessary that might stay with you should be short thank you for receiving me in this state of New York in the great village of Fredonia.”

Following the speech reenactment, local chapters of the Sons of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered with the actors to share in photos and meet the people.

This event has been re-enacted throughout the country the last two years in the places of Lafayette’s visit and locals were happy to see Fredonia be remembered as one of his greatest stops.