PUBLIC LAW 107-209—AUG. 6, 2002 116 STAT. 931 Public Law 107-209 107th Congress Joint Resolution Conferring honorary citizenship of the United States posthumously on Marie Joseph Aug. 6, 2002 Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette. [SJ Res 131 Whereas the United States has conferred honorary citizenship on four other occasions in more than 200 years of its independence, and honorary citizenship is and should remain an extraordinary honor not Ughtly conferred nor frequently granted; Whereas Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette or General Lafayette, voluntarily put forth his own money and risked his life for the freedom of Americans; Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette, by an Act of Congress, was voted to the rank of Major General; Whereas, during the Revolutionary War, General Lafayette was wounded at the Battle of Brand3rwine, demonstrating bravery that forever endeared him to the American soldiers; Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette secured the help of France to aid the United States' colonists against Great Britain; Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette was conferred the honor of honorary citizenship by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland; Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette was the first foreign dignitary to address Congress, an honor which was accorded to him upon his return to the United States in 1824; Whereas, upon his death, both the House of Representatives and the Senate draped their chambers in black as a demonstration of respect and gratitude for his contribution to the independence of the United States; Whereas an American flag has flown over his grave in France since his death and has not been removed, even while France was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II; and Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette gave aid to the United States in her time of need and is forever a symbol of freedom: Now, therefore, be it
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