Charles E. Stanton

Who was Charles E. Stanton?

Charles E. Stanton was a Colonel in the United States Army during World War I, and as chief disbursing officer an aide to General John J. Pershing. On July 4, 1917 he visited the tomb of French Revolution and American Revolution hero Marquis de La Fayette and said, "Lafayette, we are here!" to honor the nobleman's assistance during the Revolutionary War. The famous quote is often misattributed to Pershing.

The actual quote is: “America has joined forces with the Allied Powers, and what we have of blood and treasure are yours. Therefore it is that with loving pride we drape the colors in tribute of respect to this citizen of your great republic. And here and now, in the presence of the illustrious dead, we pledge our hearts and our honor in carrying this war to a successful issue. Lafayette, we are here.”

Stanton was the nephew of Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton.