A Meaningful Handshake: Commemorating 250 Years Of French-American Military Friendship And Alliance

On February 3rd, 2025, His Excellency Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, hosted a reception at his residence to celebrate a gift from the French Armed Forces to their US counterpart: a bronze statue of the farewell handshake between Generals Foch and Pershing at the end of World War I.

The work of French sculptor Luc de Moustier, the statue is inspired by a black-and-white photograph of the farewell between Marshal Foch and General Pershing standing on the deck of the U.S. warship Leviathan.  They are exchanging a particular look of shared purpose and values, of a closeness forged by months spent in the fiercest of wars.

(L to R) French Army Chief of Staff General Pierre Schill; Lieutenant General Laura A. Potter, Director of the U.S. Army Staff; General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States.

In attendance were French Army Chief of Staff General Pierre Schill, Lieutenant General Laura A. Potter, director of the Army Staff, representing General Randy A. George, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as other US and French military and civilian personalities. Guests included also the French sculptor, Luc de Moustier, two descendants of Marshal Foch, Nadine Ermeneux and Thierry Fournier-Foch, as well as contributors to the project, including The Society of the Cincinnati represented by French Society President Loÿs de Colbert and New Hampshire Society President Hugh Robinson, as well as the Doughboy Foundation, represented by Denise Doring van Buren, Chair of its Board.

(L to R) Monique Seefried; Buren Yorick de Guichen; Denise Doring VanBuren; Andy Morse.

In WWI uniforms, the Doughboy Foundation AEF Headquarters Band, brought back for the guests military and popular music of the period, and a bugler called them to attention when time came for speeches by Ambassador Laurent Bili, General Pierre Schill, Lt. Gen. Laura Potter, General Eric Smith, Colonel Labouche and Thierry Fournier-Foch.

The Doughboy Foundation’s AEF Headquarters Band

Two Statues

Behind the project was Colonel Labouche French Liaison Officer to HQDA Coordinator for the French Army LNOs’ network in the US. He mentioned that:

“There are two identical statues (with a different bronze color), one, the green-coated statue (for the Army) will be placed by the end of the year in one of the Pentagon’s permanent U.S. Army exhibits reflecting its historical heritage. Where the blue coated statue offered to the Marines will be displayed is still to be decided by the Marines. These gifts come as a military milestone celebration on the path to the 250th anniversary commemorations of the American Revolution and highlights the everlasting bond between the United States of America and France. The French army intention was not to focus specifically on Foch and Pershing’s personal relationship, but rather to step back from their story to embrace our broader bilateral relationship of almost 250 years forged on the battlefields of the War of Independence. We felt a “meaningful handshake” was appropriate and inspiring to “christen” the two statues”.

Interoperability In Action

The society of the Cincinnati was very interested in supporting the project as Marshal Foch and General Pershing were both Cincinnati members, Loÿs de Colbert adding:

“Their career followed the same path as those of Washington, Rochambeau, Lafayette and de Grasse at Yorktown : they experienced the joint operations of our forces, and exercised leadership to orchestrate and execute our plans, each with his own command. Without our combined forces on sea and land and the experience of Admiral de Grasse and General de Rochambeau (he was 56 at this time, with 40 years of war experience), the Battle of the Chesapeake would not have been such a pivotal event in 1781.

In 1917, Paris was bombarded and very close to being invaded. With the help of the American Expeditionary Corps, the Allied Forces pushed back the Germans across our borders. Cantigny, Chateau-Thierry, Saint Mihiel were harsh battles, and the Bois de Belleau was such a critical test that it stands as part of the identity of the U.S. Marines today.

Therefore, the fact that these two statues were made with soil from Yorktown, sand from Omaha Beach (for the one offered to the Army) or soil from Belleau Wood (for the Marines) is an emotional symbol that transcends wars and time.”

Oldest Allies

As Loÿs de Colbert highlights:

“We are two nations bound together by a brotherhood in arms that spans many generations. We share the same blood, we share the same color on our flags, we share the same ideals of democracy, even at a time when our values are challenged. France is the oldest ally of the United States of America, and we remain kins of the same civilizational parentage whatever the tides, whatever the times. This is the ”Why” of our engagement in this Foch & Pershing project. Our alliance must prevail, and we expect our upcoming commemoration plan 250// to demonstrate that we are one”.

Yorick de Guichen (in charge of the young members of the Society of the Cincinnati) added:

“These gifts come as a military milestone celebration on the path to the 250th anniversary commemorations and highlight the everlasting bond between the United States of America and France. Oldest Allies is a “long-range” message, which engages our relationship with our elders who fought together for our freedoms and requires for us not to forget them. It is also a responsibility for present and future generations to continue their collaboration in multiple domains to promote and advance our common values.”

Monique Brouillet Seefried Ph.D. served on the US WWI Centennial Commission from 2014 to 2024 and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the American Revolution Institute. She is also a member of the strategic committee of the 250// platform[i].

[i] 250// platform, Oldest Allies – New Challenges (2025 – 2033) is a project that unites French and American initiatives dedicated to commemorating the 250th anniversary of the French-American Alliance, dating back to 1776 and looking at the new challenges ahead. France has always stood side by side with the United States of America, helping win its Independence, contributing to the ideals of the founding fathers, inspiring its institutions, and fighting together for freedom.

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