Télécharger le communiquéThe “Bourbonnais des Amériques” project, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence (pdf - 4,67 Mo)

The « Bourbonnais aux Amériques” project – designated by the US Embassy in France as part of UFC Freedom 250 celebrations – will bring together middle school students from the Allier department, on July 1, 2026, at the Chateau des Aix, for a major historical and artistic project about the people of the Bourbonnais region who took part in the American Revolutionary War. Documentaries, plays, podcasts, comic books, historical exhibitions and musical creations: all through the 2025-2026 school year, more than 130 middle school students investigated the fate of those soldiers (from the Bourbonnais region) who fought alongside American forces in the late 1700s. To mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, the Allier Département wishes to pass on this historic legacy to a new generation through a project that combines heritage, artistic creation, and civic engagement. Claude RIBOULET, Président of the Allier Departmental Council Press kit ÉDITORIAL 6:00 pm : Welcome and official speeches 6:30 pm : Screening of the documentary and conversations with the young participants and the film director 7:20 pm : Break and book signings with Nicole Maymat, Esther Gil, Laurent Paturaud. Podcasts. 8:00 pm : Theatrical and music performance. Conversations with the participants and supervisors 8:40 pm : American-style Buffet – Hot air balloon launch 10:00 pm : Closing ceremony Throughout the event : Historical reconstruction of a Bourbonnais regiment camp by the association Les compagnons du temps. Located in Meillard, Château des Aix is directly related to the “Bourbonnais des Amériques”. It is the birthplace of the chevalier Charles-François du Buysson who fought alongside La Fayette. • The Conseil départemental de l’Allier • The Conseil départemental des jeunes (the Departmental Youth Council) • The association « Bourbonnais aux Amériques » • Middle schools involved • Cultural and heritage partners OUR PROGRAM PRESS CONTACT Charlotte de Vaulx-Ricaud • [email protected] Graphic design: Communication Department (CD03) - Illustration: Bourbonnais youth at the heart, © Pierre Jourde, imagier. - Printing: Departmental printing works - June 2026. F R A N C E UNITED STATES of AMERICA EMBASSY and CONSULATES -- 1 of 2 -- A DOCUMENTARY ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Eleven young members of the Department Youth council, guided by journalist Alain Valentini, made this film exploring youth engagement today though the legacy of La Fayette and the Chevalier du Buysson. A THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Students in the music and theatre programs at François Villon Middle School in Yzeure created a performance blending theater, music, and historical texts and letters of Bourbonnais soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War. HISTORICAL PODCASTS Students from Victor Hugo Middle school in the Donjon, created several podcasts around Pierre Marie de La Faige and his journey to America in the late 1700s, in collaboration with Onde Porteuse, a local radio station from Clermont-Ferrand. A COMIC BOOK : AMÉRIQUES Written by Esther Gil and illustrated by Laurent Paturaud, this comic book follows the steps and fate of the Chevalier du Buysson and pays tribute to the people of Bourbonnais who fought alongside the American forces. A TOURING EXHIBITION The exhibition “Le chevalier du Buysson guide vos pas” will tour middle schools and public libraries across the department to raise awareness about this chapter of history. A HISTORICAL NOVEL Moulins-based author Nicole Maymat will present her book “Dans l’ombre du chevalier”, dedicated to the return of Chevalier du Buysson to France after the American Revolutionary War. At the end of the 18th century, 80 people from the Bourbonnais region left their homeland to take part in the American war of Independence. Led by the spirit of the Enlightenment, a thirst for adventure or the influence of Lafayette, these young men embodied an ideal of engagement that still vibrates today. To mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, the Allier Département wishes to pay tribute to the amazing story of those men by giving the floor to the youth of the Bourbonnais region. Because the past only has meaning when it sheds light on the present, this event showcases projects created throughout the year by middle school students from the Allier region exploring the story of the “Bourbonnais aux Amériques”. Through this initiative the Allier Department aims to : • promote openness to the world • convey the values of the Enlightenment • encourage critical thinking and civic engagement • highlight the history of the Bourbonnais region • strengthen cultural bonds between the United States and France In a world where tension and uncertainty prevail, this initiative serves as a reminder that young people remain a strength for change, innovation, and hope. The event is grounded in a strong historical heritage : • The Bourbonnais men who fought alongside American Revolutionary forces • The decisive victory of Yorktown in 1781, thanks to the French troupe of Rochambeau • A long-lasting Enlightenment bond between the United States and France The American Revolution and the French Revolution share the same ideals: a quest for liberty, democracy, and freedom. In a world where tension and uncertainty prevail, this initiative serves as a reminder of the importance of those historical and cultural ties between nations. For Aline (a student at Collège Lucien Colon in Lapalisse) : « It’s the story that has crossed time and the Atlantic. » For Garance (a student at George Sand Middle School in Huriel) « All the meetings I’ve had in this project have been enriching: I would have certainly never met these people under different circumstances, and yet they inspired me. » -- 2 of 2 --