Bastille Day Celebration Tall Ships Festival Port of Cleveland July 8-9, 2022
As Larry Miller, President, French-American Chamber Commerce (Ohio) said, it was fortunate that the Tall Ships Festival took place in between the 4th of July and Bastille Day celebrations. Not to mention during early stages of the Tour de France.
Yannick Tagand, who was appointed Consul General of France in Chicago in September 2021 with jurisdiction for thirteen States, visited Cleveland for the celebration and to honor Cédric Le Rouge as the new Honorary Consul. On Friday July 8 the Consul General visited several local businesses and enterprises including a craft cheese store and the Cleveland Museum of Art. They also toured the future home of the French Cultural Garden on MLK. Blvd.
On Friday evening the FACC hosted a meet and greet reception at Nuevo Modern Mexican right on Lake Erie with some of the honorary consuls from other countries (Lithuania, Slovenia, etc.)
At the Tall Ships Festival on Saturday, a crowd gathered in a VIP tent to welcome the Consul General and congratulate Cédric Le Rouge. Larry Miller led off with a welcome and then a toast to the Consul General. Consul General Tagand then spoke, in English and in French, and was followed by new Honorary Consul Cédric Le Rouge who also spoke in English and in French.
Larry Miller told about plans for a French Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens chain and then led the singing of La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France.
I apologize for the sound quality in the video. The wind was whipping off of Lake Erie, there was no microphone and a lot of background noise from the Tall Ships Festival. But you will get the idea.
It was a great weekend and we are excited about the future relations between the Consul General and Cleveland. And the continuation of the work on the French Cultural Garden.
Watch the video of the celebration.
Enjoy these images from the weekend courtesy of Larry Miller.
Consul General Yannick Tagand and Honorary Consul Cédric Le Rouge
Consul General Yannick Tagand visits the Cheese Store
Friday night reception with honorary consuls
Friday night reception with honorary consuls
Friday night reception with honorary consuls
Cédric Le Rouge, Yannick Tagand and Larry Miller
at the Tall Ships Festival celebration
Some of the guests at the celebration
Yannick Tagand, Cédric Le Rouge, Dan Hanson and Larry Miller
Fireworks over Lake Erie
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