To the Editor:

Some thoughts on Newtown’s place in history crossed my mind after refreshing my knowledge of the American War of Independence. Some context follows.

Lafayette Square is a seven-acre public park located within President’s Park in Washington, D.C., next to the White House. In the center stands the iconic equestrian statue of President Andrew Jackson. On the four corners of the park stand statues of Revolutionary War heroes: France’s General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, Major General Comte Jean de Rochambeau, Poland’s General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, and Prussia’s Major General Baron Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben.

In 1781, General Rochambeau and his troops encamped in Newtown during their historic march on their way to the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, which ended the American Revolution.

It seems there is no prominent commemoration of this war hero or his troops in Newtown center other aged plaques, hard-to-find markers and poultry. Am I wrong? Yes, there is the town symbol depicting a rooster. As cited on the Newtown Meeting House website for historical perspective: “The original gilded chanticleer (rooster) weathervane, dating from the Revolutionary period, still stands watch from its lofty perch on top of the steeple. The rooster displays a number of bullet holes which tradition attributes to French soldiers, commanded by General Rochambeau, who marched through Newtown in 1781 and 1782 on their way to and from the battle of Yorktown.” (newtownmeetinghouse.com/history)

Oh yes, there is the I-84 Rochambeau Bridge with a small sign for travelers whizzing by at 65 mph.

Redding, for example, has a prominent statue of Revolutionary War hero General Israel Putnam at Putnam Memorial State Park, featuring the remains of an historic troop encampment surrounded with trails often termed “Connecticut’s Valley Forge.” Newtown recognizes General Rochambeau’s troops, in an unusual way, with its town symbol depicting a rooster, perhaps also with a weathervane or pub logo and hard-to-find unremarkable markers or signs. No statue or depiction of General Rochambeau, as in our nation’s capital, nor any distinguished commemoration of his soldiers can be found anywhere in town center, to my knowledge, and none where an undeveloped section of the historic Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail and local encampment is or, perhaps, soon was. Would a visitor, or even a resident, be aware of what happened here during the American Revolution? Is it important that they do know? Shouldn’t there be something more?

Newtown’s flag flies high and may its place in American history be clearly apparent to all.

Visit the National Park Service website if you want to learn more: nps.gov/waro

Ray Bigelis

Newtown