Up & Coming Weekly

September 08, 2020

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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10 UCW SEPTEMBER 9-15, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Fayetteville's namesake was born this month 263 years ago by JEFF THOMPSON The American Revolutionary War was initi- ated by the 13 original colonies against the kingdom of Great Britain over their objection of Parliament's direct taxation and the lack of co- lonial representation. The war of independence was not a brief conflict. It lasted for eight years (1775-1783). Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Mo- tier, Marquis de Lafayette, was born into a family of noble military lineage September 6, 1757, in Chavaniac, France. He was only 20 when he fled his home country during the French Revolution. Lafayette regained prominence as a statesman before his death May 20, 1834. Inspired by stories of the colonists' struggles against British op- pression, Lafayette sailed to the newly declared United States in 1777 to join the uprising. He was initially rebuffed by colonial leaders, but he impressed them with his passion and willingness to serve. He had inherited significant wealth and agreed to serve without pay. In Amer- ica, he served the Continental Army with distinc- tion, providing tactical leadership while securing vital resources from France. Lafayette was named a major-general in the Continental Army. His first major combat duty came during the September 1777 Battle of Brandywine, when he was shot in the leg. Gen. George Washington requested doctors to take special care of Lafay- ette, igniting a strong bond between the two that lasted until Washington's death. More troops fought at Brandywine than any other battle of the American Revolution. It was also the longest single-day battle of the war, with continuous fighting for 11 hours. Following a winter in Valley Forge with Wash- ington, Lafayette helped draw more French resources to the colonial side. He had travelled to France to press Louis XVI for more aid. Lafayette assumed increased military responsibility upon his return to battle. As commander of the Vir- ginia Continental forces in 1781, he helped keep British General Lord Cornwallis' army pinned at Yorktown, Virginia, while divisions led by Wash- ington and French forces surrounded the British and forced a surrender in the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. e Lafayette Society of Fayetteville was founded by Martha Duell (1924-2015) in 1981 to raise funds for a statue of Fayetteville's namesake to be erected in Cross Creek Park. e statue was dedicated in 1983 as part of Fayetteville's bicen- tennial celebration. e organization has funded scholarships for high school and college students and supported the establishment of the Lafay- ette Room in the Methodist University library. e carriage used by Lafayette during his visit to Fayetteville in 1825 is in the local library. Some members of the Lafayette Society also belong to the American Friends of Lafayette, an historical and patriotic association dedicated to Lafayette's memory and to the study of his life and times in America and France. e organiza- tion was founded at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1932. e library at Lafayette College has a collection of over 2,000 items re- lated to Lafayette. Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, Mar- quis de Lafayette, NEWS Map out your transportation concerns for future plans a STAFF REPORT e public's input is wanted to help shape and direct the future of transportation in Cumberland County. e North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Fayetteville Area Metropoli- tan Planning Organization and the Mid-Carolina Rural Planning Organization recently launched an interactive survey that will help develop the Cumberland County Comprehensive Transporta- tion Plan. is will be the first Comprehensive Trans- portation Plan for the entirety of Cumberland County, which includes the FAMPO and Mid- Carolina RPO planning regions. e plan focuses on conditions, safety and ease of travel for all transportation modes using a horizon year of 2045 so that today's transportation concerns can be addressed and prioritized for the future. FAMPO wants you to evaluate the importance of modern roads, emerging technologies, shorter travel times, growth and development, and pub- lic or private transit. "is transportation plan can only be success- ful with the input of the community," said Joel Strickland FAMPO executive director. "You drive our roads. You know where the areas of concern are. is survey will tell us what matters to you and what the recommended transportation plan should focus on." Cumberland County residents and those who commute through the area can participate in the development of this plan by taking a quick online survey at https://cumberlandfampo.metroquest. com/. e survey is available in Spanish and English (La encues- ta está disponible en español e inglés). ere are questions about pedestrian and biking infrastruc- ture, as well as mass transit and traffic congestion. A map feature allows survey takers to identify specific areas of concern using drag-and-drop icons. e survey is open until Sept. 25. FAMPO and NCDOT will use the confidential results to begin drafting the plan. After the plan is compiled, the public will have opportunities for review and for further comments before presen- tations to the local boards and the NCDOT. Follow the plans' progress virtually at fampo. org/plans. FAMPO was established in 1975 as a result of the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1973. Any urbanized area with a popula- tion greater than 50,000 is designated as a Metro- politan Planning Organization. e Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization includes portions of Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke and Robeson counties. For more information on FAMPO, visit fampo. org or call 910-678-7614.

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