Nazareth Welcomes The Consul General of France in New York to Speak on Franco-American Relations, Oct. 28

ROCHESTER, NY (10/27/2014)(readMedia)-- To celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Nazareth College and the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Europe, Nazareth College is pleased to welcome the Consul General of France in New York City Bertrand Lortholary, who will give a keynote address on "Franco-American Relations" on Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 from 7-8 p.m. in Nazareth College Arts Center (room A14). For more information please contact: Dr. Mireille Le Breton (650) 644-8600 or email mlebret5@naz.edu.

Lortholary will discuss Franco-American relations today, including the themes of peace and freedom, economic growth and business opportunities, political stability, and international affairs, in the context of the legacy of a long-lasting friendship between France and the United States.

The afternoon begins at 5 p.m. with a WWII commemorative concert in Nazareth Arts Center A14 where WWII era songs will alternate with the speeches by WWII veterans who landed on Omaha Beach in 1944; the speech of Naomi Wadsworth, director of Flight Operations at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo and female pilot who flew the historic transport troop plane C47-W7 back to Normandy to be part of the 70th anniversary of D-Day ceremonies on June 6, 2014; and the speech of a war Bride and long time member of Alliance française de Rochester, Mrs. Pierrette Lepel.

From 6-7 p.m., in the same location (A14) a reception will take place where Lortholary will meet with the French community of the Greater Rochester Area.

The visit of the Consul General of France is part of the Nazareth College Maison Française Cultural Center WWII series commemorating D-Day and the Liberation of Europe. It began in April 2014, with a fundraiser where French Club students and their advisor, and Director of Maison Française cultural center Mireille Le Breton, Ph.D., raised funds to contribute to the "Return to Normandy Project" organized by the National War Plane Museum in Geneseo. The project allowed the historic plane C47-W7 "Whiskey 7" to go back to Normandy and be part of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day commemorative ceremonies, on June 6, 2014.

The Maison Française WWII commemorative series continues throughout the fall semester, with a WWII film series where Nazareth College student presenters will introduce the movies and lead Q&A post-screening discussions.

The visit of the Consul General of France on Nazareth College campus is sponsored by the Nazareth College and its Maison Française Cultural Center, the Alliance française de Rochester, and by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.