he was the man who survived injury at brandywine and winter at valley forge and who convinced the king to send reinforcements to support the americans and who commanded troops at yorktown? only two men, though not american, have contributed so much to the cause of national liberty that they stand fixed and honored in these hallowed halls of republican government. churchill, who helped save the country. and lafayette who helped to create it. lafayette's bravery, diligence and love for liberty are so infectious that when you read of his life, he seems more like a hero from a storybook than actually a mortal who walked among us. that's why today i'd like to thank you for being here as we join the ranks of those 200 years ago and pay homage to this general, this frenchman, and this honorary american citizen. the marquis de lafayette. thank you. ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of the colors by the united states capitol police ceremonial unit, a performance of the national anthem of the united states by ms. laura hyde. the performance of the national anthem of france

just over the pennsylvania line in the battle of brandywine.f and his boot filled with blood. he led the single largest engagement of the american revolution and was cared for in one of the now suburbs of philadelphia and endured a very difficult winter in valley forge. young general lafayette left of the united states, not to abandon us, but following our victory at saratoga, to advocate for us. he had turned -- returned to america and with thousands of french troops. this time he marched southward to victory at yorktown. there is lots of legacy and lower in delaware about what happened when he came on that visit 50 years later that we celebrate today. one i found particularly interesting. according to local legend a woman removed a bullet from his leg following the battle of brandywine and kept it as a keepsake for 50 years. when he returned to delaware he sought her out and thanked her and she returned the bullet to him. [laughter] and said, with this we return our heart to yours. you know what a nation values by where and who they are. if y

, and the ship remained anchored for an additional night in the morning, as the crew aboard the brandywine entered the chesapeake bay. a large and brilliant rainbow arch triumphantly across the water with one end of the prism on the maryland shore and the other on virginia. the ship sailed under the brilliant colors. as lafayette bade farewell to nation that had shown him so much love and a love, he returned throughout his lifetime. it's the miniseries really writes itself. i'm surprised it hasn't happened yet. lafayette never again was able to return to america when he died in 1834. he was buried next to his wife at a cemetery in paris. once the news of his death reached america, president andrew jackson ordered the same funeral and mourning that was observed for george washington. flags were flown at half mast. members of congress were mourning bands. the chambers were dressed in black bunting and mock funerals were held across the country as a way for the nation to publicly grieve him. this portrait of lafayette was moved from the rotunda to the old house chamber, a room known today as