Commemorative ceremony for the 60th death anniversary of veteran Eugene Bullard [fr]

In cooperation with the American Society of Le Souvenir Français, the Federation of French War Veterans held a commemorative ceremony on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at Flushing Cemetery, Queens, to pay tribute to Eugene Bullard, who passed away 60 years ago. Eugene Bullard is buried in the French War Veterans’ plot of the cemetery.

Eugene Bullard is a native of Columbus, Georgia. During World War I, he volunteered to serve in the French Foreign Legion. After being severely wounded at Verdun, he learned to fly and served as a volunteer in the French Army Air Corps, becoming the first black American military pilot. During the interwar period, he owned jazz clubs in Montmartre. When World War II broke out, he carried out several spy missions for the French resistance, before returning to the United States in 1940.

Read more about Eugene Bullard’s fascinating story in this article.

The ceremony was attended by Jérémie Robert, Consul General of France, Damien Laban, Deputy Consul General of France, LTC Thierry Chaunu, President of the American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Col. Terrance Holliday, USAF, Ret. Former NYC Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs and Lt Col Patrick du Tertre, President of the Association of French Reserve Officers in the United States (ACREFEU).

Mr. Jérémie Robert, our President Alain Dupuis, Terrance Holliday, Thierry Chaunu and Patrick du Tertre addressed the audience.

Mr. Jérémie Robert and Terrance Holliday laid a wreath in the name of the Consulate at the tomb of Eugene Bullard, Thierry Chaunu and Patrick du Tertre laid a wreath in the name of the French Reserve Officers.

The Consul General also presented the Medal of Music to trumpeter Mathieu Choueiri of the Lafayette Cadets.