One of the most incredible and poignant events in the history of the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace took place when the site was under reconstruction. In 1921 Ferdinand Foch, the Marshal of France during the Great War, came to the United States on a tour modeled in part on Lafayette’s visit of 1824. Everywhere Foch went in America the crowds turned out in huge numbers, literally by the tens of thousands. Embedded within the sidewalk on Lower Broadway is this plaque noting the ticker tape parade held for him all those years ago. The parade was held curiously enough on October 28, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday. It was not the only Foch/Roosevelt moment during the marshal’s visit. A few week’s after the parade Foch came to East 20th Street to pay his respects to Roosevelt’s memory. It would not have been lost on Foch or anyone else that all four of Roosevelt’s sons had fought in the Great War. Quentin, the youngest, did not return. (KM) (Image: Ferdinand Foch with the ladies of the Womens Roosevelt Memorial Association, 19 November 1921. The Foch plaque in the Canyon of Heroes, Lower Manhattan)
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015