CityView Magazine

62 | September/October 2015 weaving and completing rebus puzzles. Also on Saturday, the Lafayette Trail Tour guides groups back in time to retread Lafayette's footsteps and learn about the city's history. is year, the tour includes two new spots— the Phoenix Masonic Lodge and Cool Spring Tavern—plus will be lined with bronze markers purchased by the Lafayette Society. "It's as good as any tour I've been on in Philadelphia, Charleston or a host of other cities," Parfitt said. Sidewalk sales, the Army Ground Forces Dixieland Jazz Band and a tournament at All American Fencing Academy will keep Downtown Fayetteville buzzing all day. Saturday night, the fun continues with a French wine and cheese tast- ing at the Wine Cafe before Lloyd Kramer, Professor of His- tory and Faculty Director of the Program in the Humanities and Human Values at UNC Chapel Hill, brings Lafayette to life at the Market House. His talk, "Lafayette, National Revo- lutions, and Greece in the 1820's" promises to be an enter- taining look into the man behind the celebration. "Everywhere Lafayette went, he affirmed the American na- tional identity," Kramer said. He was loyal, idealistic and generous—almost to a fault. In fact, when the Continental Congress could not pay his way to America, Lafayette commissioned his own ship and paid for the voyage. He also gave coin to his soldiers and roused finan- cial support from other members of the French nobility. He was fully devoted to the American cause. Only nineteen when he joined the war effort, Lafayette was given what was sup- posed to be an honorary title of Major General. However, the man Franklin and Washington initially saw as a wealthy and privileged young man quickly became a great field general. Of all Lafayette's qualities, Kramer most admires his abil- ity to adapt quickly and effectively to different culture and social mores. "Most people can't do that," Kramer said. "Much less do it well." Going Greek During his visit to America, La- fayette praised the Greek war for independence. "He believed that independent nation- al states protected basic human rights better than empires, so he saw the Greek struggle against the Ottoman Empire in the 1820s as part of a broader politi- cal movement that he had first encoun- tered in the earlier American struggle against the British Empire." Kramer said. By speaking out during his tour, Lafayette forged a bond be- tween American and Greek cultures. "His advocacy for the Greek cause also inspired a few Amer- icans to join the revolutionary struggle in Greece itself and thus become new 'Lafayettes' in a different place," Kramer said. In that same spirit, the Greek Festival held at Saints Con- stantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church has been an in- tegral part of the local community for over fiy years. Pete Skenteris, Haymont Grill owner, has been on the board that entire time. "It gets better every year," Skenteris said. Although Skenteris is happy to pass the torch to a new gen- eration of organizers, co-chairs Vince Higgins and Dr. John Poulos still rely on Skenteris to provide a sense of history, both for the festival and the greater Greek culture. "e festival shows off Greek food and culture, but it also demonstrates Greek family values," Skenteris said. He loves it when people come to the festival for the food, but end up wan- dering over to the church to look at the iconography and asking questions. In addition to Greek food—including everything from gyros to pastries—the festival will have live entertainment, vendors and a slew of kids' activities. Local fire and police departments will provide expos and demos while also promoting their com- munity campaigns. "ere's truly something for everyone to do, not to mention plenty of beer, wine and dancing. Everyone should come over, get a bite to eat, and enjoy the entertainment," Skenteris said. On having two incredible events on the same weekend, La- fayette Festival volunteer Mike Lynch, boasted, "We are a very diversified community and it brings two great events to the same weekend and we can all enjoy the resources. It's awesome! CV Pete Skenteris Lafayette forged a bond between American and Greek cultures.

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