On December 3rd, 1776, Benjamin Franklin arrived in France with the title of Commissioner from the Continental Congress to the Court of France. In the weeks and months that followed, Franklin successfully forged an alliance with France that was critical to America’s victory in the war for inde-pendence. It was a pivotal moment in both American and world history.

We stand at another historical crossroads. The 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate and advance the ocean-spanning values of the Enlightenment at this critical juncture. As inheritors and stewards of a great legacy, we will gather to commemorate the Franco-American alliance during the Revolutionary War and to affirm the singular importance of transatlantic partnerships in advancing Enlightenment values.