History came to life for Martha and Roger Barnhart of Churubusco who took the trip of a lifetime to Paris, France, in September and spent a week participating in the historic commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

The trip was jointly sponsored by the National Society Sons of the American Revolution and National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the French Societies of both organizations.

Roger Barnhart is Vice President General of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution and Martha is Indiana State Vice Regent of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

The event was organized to mark the historical commemoration of the Treaty of Paris, the Peace of 1783, which realigned the world powers and officially ended the Revolutionary War giving freedom to the 13 American colonies.

The NSSAR and the NSDAR planned a joint commemoration of this treaty with a trip to Paris on the exact day, 225 years later.

The SAR provided a color guard made up of seven members - including Roger Barnhart - attired as George Washington’s guards which participated in the wreath laying ceremonies. The Presidents General of both the DAR and the SAR were in attendance as well as the presidents of both organizations of the French State and Chapter societies.

Both the NSSAR and the NSDAR are non-profit service groups organized with the purpose of Promoting Patriotism and Education and Preserving History. Membership is open to all men or women over the age of 18 who can prove their lineage to a Revolutionary War Patriot.

The Barnharts recently gave a presentation to the Churubusco Rotary where they proclaimed the event as an “awesome experience,” and added they were treated like royalty by the French dignitaries and the people of France.

The first evening of the week-long Paris trip, Barnharts and other members from abroad were welcomed at a reception by the Ambassador of the United States and by the Diplomatic Counselor of the French Republic. The reception was held in a mansion built in 1714. Later, guests were hosted for small groups of dinner parties in individual French homes.

The following day, three busloads of guests were delivered to the Hotel National des Invalides, a huge complex. These buildings were built by Louis XIV in the 1670’s to house the wounded and poor soldiers from wars. Considered to be the model for the United States Veterans Administration, it is still used today to house French veterans, Martha Barnhart said.

“A large part of the buildings are currently used as an Army Museum. Among other items in the museum are drawings and plans for the Battle of Yorktown. In the golden domed Cathedral of the Armies is the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon

which was transferred there in 1840,” Roger Barnhart added.

The next stop - the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette - was particularly interesting, Martha Barnhart said.

Lafayette died on May 20, 1834, and is buried next to his wife. The Picpus Cemetery is owned privately by descendants of the victims of the French Revolution in 1784.

Over 1300 victims were beheaded by guillotine in a nearby square and hidden in common grave in this area until it was later discovered where they 

were located. The executions happened within a period of 44 days of June and July, 1784. The land was privately purchased, a chapel was built and nuns moved into a nearby building. Gardens were planned and markers were obtained by families of the victims.

Lafayette’s wife’s parents, sister, grandmother and aunts and uncles were among the victims and she chose to be buried in the cemetery near them. In 1834, Lafayette was buried next to his wife in soil he had ordered brought in from Bunker Hill, Mass., and spread under his tomb. The American flag

stands over his grave, replaced annually on July 4 with an SAR ceremony attended by dignitaries, Roger Barnhart said.

“We were up and on a bus by 8 in the morning and not back in our hotel room until very late that same night,” Roger Barnhart said. “We barely had time to sleep.”

One day the Barnharts traveled with their group to Chateau de Vincennes, a King’s residence surrounded by a moat and including a dungeon, built in 1326. Also on the grounds are a military library and museum. On special display was the birth certificate of Lafayette as well as other maps and books relating to the American Revolution, Martha Barnhart said.

Next on the tour was a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Rochambeau, hero of the American Revolution.

Martha and Roger related that evening activitie

s were held at the Jacquemart-Andre Museum and Mansion of 18th century art where food and cocktails were shared while touring and viewing. Of special note were works on display by Van Dyck and a Rembrandt painting named Disciple of Emmaus which has never been loaned to any other museum for display, Martha Barnhart said.

“Our busy day mid-week began early with conferences on the Enlightenment period in Europe held at the Palace of Luxembourg, site of the French Senate,” Martha Barnhart said. “There professors and interpreters shared historical information and answered questions.”

Following lunch, buses loaded to depart for a wreath laying and tribute at a memorial to Comte de Grasse, a French Naval Admiral, followed by a visit to the nearby Naval Museum and a tribute and wreath laying at the Benjamin Franklin monument.

The highlight of the trip was that afternoon, Martha Barnhart said, when the entire group - led by the SAR color guard and the French army - marched down the closed circle of twelve streets on the thoroughfare of the Champs-Elysees to present wreaths and honors at the Unknown Soldiers Memorial under The Arch of Triumph.

“They closed off twelve lanes of traffic for this event,” she said. “The city came to a standstill.

“That evening, we were treated to a private reception and tour of the Palace of Versailles royal apartments. This palace is one of the largest castles in the world with more than 2000 windows overlooking gorgeous gardens,” Martha Barnhart said.

“It has 700 rooms and 67 staircases

. Begun in 1623, by King Louis XIII, four generations lived and expanded and enhanced the castles before the downfall of King Louis XVI. A formal dinner was held in Versailles with the French Minister of Economy as guest speaker.”

“The French band played the French and American National anthems, military and honor guards stood at attention as our group marched down the street to pay our honor and respect and place flowers under the direction of the French General,” Barnhart said.

“As the gendarmerie stopped traffic, many local residents gathered along the way to watch. The Presidents General of the DAR and SAR, along with three children, held the sword to enlarge the eternal flame.”

Later they were  treated to a private reception and tour of the Palace of Versailles royal apartments.

“This palace is one of the largest castles in the world with more than 2000 windows overlooking gorgeous gardens,” Barnhart said. “It has 700 rooms and 67 staircases. Begun in 1623, by King Louis XIII, four generations lived and expanded and enhanced the castles before the downfall of King Louis XVI.”

A formal dinner was held in Versailles with the French Minister of Economy as guest speaker.

“The thing that amazed us was the amount of alcohol that was consumed,” Roger Barnhart said. “The French start every event - and I mean every event - with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, followed by lots of white and red wine and more food. It continues throughout the night.”

The following day, the exhausted but excited group toured the Lafayette Squadron Memorial to commemorate the American fliers of WWI, the only all-American squadron.

Visits were made and a wreath presented at the nearby the Aisne-Marne Cemetery near Belleau Wood where some 7,000 Americans gave their lives in 1918. Following lunch, a guided tour of the Reims Cathedral was given to the group by the Vicar followed by a tour of the Taittinger’s Champagne cellars.

Dinner was held at the Taittinger family residence in Epernay, and - after more champagne and wine - the buses returned the visitors to their hotel rooms at around 2 a.m.

The last day included meetings of the SAR, SAR Ladies Auxiliary and the DAR. Martha and Roger are officers in both the SAR and DAR and participate locally in many historical American Revolutionary commemorative events.

“The early afternoon was free for sightseeing, shopping or a nap,” Martha Barnhart said. “In the late afternoon, buses departed for the Saint Denis Basilica for a Christian Mass and tribute to King Louis XVI. There are 42 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princesses buried in the abbey including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.”

The farewell banquet and dancing at the beautiful Paris City Hall were quite spectacular, Barnharts agreed.

Some attendees visited the beaches of Normandy or spent extra time sightseeing in Paris before returning home, Martha Barnhart said.

She and Roger decided take a tour of the Eiffel Tower and of course, Notre Dame Cathedral.

It was a very memorable time, they agreed, adding, “It was a grand and exhausting trip and we were honored to be a part of it!”.

Story and photo of Martha and Roger Barnhart at Churubusco Rotary by Viv Sade. All other photos contributed by Roger and Martha Barnhart.