Durel Presented with Prestigious Marianne d'Or

LAFAYETTE – Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel was presented with the prestigious Marianne d’Or (or Golden Marianne) in Lafayette's French sister-city of Le Cannet on Saturday, May 16, 2009 by Marianne d’Or Association President Alain Trampoglieri.

The Marianne d’Or is an award that is presented annually to a French Mayor who has accomplished an outstanding municipal program for the benefit of his/her community. Michelle Tabarot, mayor of Le Cannet and a member of the National Assembly of France, was recognized with the Marianne d’Or last year for the outstanding environmental quality program of the City of Le Cannet. Exceptionally, the Marianne d’Or can also be presented to a foreign mayor to recognize special programs of cooperation with French mayors. Until May 16th, the Marianne d’Or had only been presented to two United States Mayors in its history, Mayor David Dinkins of New York City and Mayor Andrew Young of Atlanta.

“It is an extreme honor to receive this award on behalf of the people of Lafayette and Acadiana for all the hard work they did in making the Marquis de Lafayette celebration in 2007 such a huge success,” Durel said. “It is also a testament to the success of our Sister City program, and the importance of the relationships we have developed throughout France in promoting Lafayette, the State of Louisiana, and the United States.”

Marianne serves as the national emblem of the French Republic. Her image represents France as a state as well as its values. The depiction of the Marianne is displayed throughout France, and can be seen on the official seal of the country, the French Euro Coin, and French postage stamps. Despite her origins being uncertain, Marianne is undeniably one of the most prominent symbols of the French Republic. Every town in France has a Marianne statue or painting.

In his presentation to Durel, Mr. Trampoglieri stressed that he was from the small village of Chavaniac – La Fayette, the birthplace of the famous General Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, namesake of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana and some 30 other cities and counties in the United States. Mayor Tabarot had informed Mr. Trampoglieri of the celebration undertaken by Lafayette, LA in 2007 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Marquis de Lafayette, the “Hero of both worlds.” That celebration, which culminated with an invitation to co-chairs Virginia Stuller and Lynne Durel to a state dinner at the White House hosted by then President George Bush in honor of French President Sarkozy in 2008, weighed considerably in his decision to add a third United States Mayor to the already prestigious history of the Marianne d’Or.