A delegation of local citizens and perhaps elected officials will be traveling to Hammond's sister city
The visit to France will be the first for a delegation from Hammond since 2018
A French delegation visited Hammond in 2023 and was part of the Hammond Air Show
Bradley Hayes said the visit is in conjunction with the Topla-Hammond program
“When my wife and I moved here five years ago
we were excited to learn that Hammond has a sister city,” Hayes said
“This is very rare for a city of this size.”
He said such an International Twin City program is more prevalent in Europe typically reserved for the larger cities in the United States
“When I saw that sign (in downtown Hammond) I thought this is a very progressive city,” he recently told City Council members
Hayes said the first delegation visited Jouars-Pontchartrain in the fall of 1998 and a French delegation visited Hammond the following year
reciprocal visits have occurred every few years
“They have returned the favor (based on the French delegation’s visit to Hammond) so we received a formal invitation from them asking for our presence at their festival (scheduled June 19-23),” Hayes said
He said the most recent visit to France by a Hammond delegation was in 2018
Hayes asked for the support of the council but emphasized it was not financial as the people who make the visit pay their way and that the French people also help with expenses
But he is hoping for the group to receive some type of designation in an official capacity
“What we really are wanting to do is invite y’all to join us,” he told the council
“You are officially invited to take part in this exchange and would love to have your prayers and support in whatever capacity you can support us.”
He said if Mayor Pete Panepinto or elected officials are unable to make the trip
a person would have to be designated as a proxy and to bring tokens of good will that are suitable to the occasion
“They are very sensitive to these things,” Hayes said
“We have to keep up the appearances and the niceties.”
Jouars-Pontchartrain is located in north central France
The city’s signature is Chateau de Pontchartrain
which was a personal estate of a manorial lord
who was a chancellor of France was the original owner of the castle
Lake Pontchartrain bears his name as well as the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans
Jouars-Pontchartrain’s population was 5,658
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