Saint Louis CitySide St. Louis Front Page presents St. Louis CitySide, an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis. From time to time, we will take an indepth look at many of the projects in which the city is involved and how these projects will affect residents and visitors. ARCHIVED NEWS Laclede Elementary Receives National Recognition As a "Blue Ribbon School" St. Louis' First Elementary School in Downtown Opens Carnahan Middle School to Open in Dutchtown Thousands of Parents Attend Back to School Family Festival at Vashon High School Community Organizations Join Forces With St. Louis Public Schools on 'First Day, Every Day' Efforts St. Louis School Board Votes Four to One to Approve 2004 Budget Advance Saint Louis' Second City Wide Meeting - Concerned Citizens Work to Change City Government Advance Saint Louis' Second City Wide Meeting - Concerned Citizens Work to Change City Government Yes Vote by St. Louis School Board Meets a Strong No by Parents and Teachers Advance Saint Louis' First City Wide Meeting Begins the Journey to Change City Government Advance Saint Louis Launches Citizen Planning Process to Change St. Louis City Government 'The Game of Their Lives' to Be Filmed in St. Louis St. Louis News Community Info St. Louis CitySide Business News St. Charles News Southwest, IL News Fairview Heights,IL Art Gallery News Hotel News Restaurant News Style St. Louis Not Just For Kids   Downtown Map America's Center Busch Stadium Gateway Arch Kiel Center Laclede's Landing Old Courthouse Union Station   Metropolitan Map Casinos Clayton, MO Grand Center Grant's Farm Forest Park Kimmswick, MO MO Botanical Garden Soulard St. Charles, MO West Port Plaza Transportation Lambert Airport

(L. to R.) St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay welcomed James Roan Gray, Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, Jean-David Levitte, French Ambassador, Judge Craig Manson, U.S. assistant secretary of the Interior, and Jeff Olson, public information officer, National Park Service, in a press conference at City Hall. March 13 - (L. to R.) U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Judge Craig Manson presented a Three Flags Festival commemorative pin to: Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, James Roan Gray; French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte; and, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. Three Flags Festival Commemorates Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), March 16, 2004 - The official transfer of the Upper Louisiana Territory from Spain to France and to the United States two hundred years ago was recognized during the Three Flags Ceremony, Sunday, March 14, on the Mississippi Riverfront beneath the Gateway Arch. Prior to the final ceremony commemorating the Purchase, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay welcomed dignitaries from France, the Osage Nation and the U.S. government at a press conference, March 13, at City Hall. "This bicentennial represents an important moment in history of our region and in our country. It is indeed fitting and proper that we as a country celebrate our rich history and reflect upon our heritage so that we can learn from our past and build upon our strengths," stated the Mayor. St. Louis and Cahokia in Illinois came under Spanish control in 1762 and remained Spanish for nearly 40 years. Yet, St. Louis remained a town dominated by French who relied on their close relationship with the Osage for their lucrative fur trade, related the Mayor. French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte stated that it was a great privilege to participate in a very moving ceremony. "From the Great Lakes Region down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, a number of French participated in the discovery and the development of what is now the Midwest. St. Louis was founded by two French citizens in 1764 in the name of Louis IX for the French Saint Louis." He stated that two decades later United States President Jefferson and Napoleon negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, which at that time was a huge but unknown territory. "Thirteen states were born from the Louisiana Purchase," stated Levitte. "Jefferson bought the territory of Louisiana for $15 million, which was certainly the best deal in American history." Levitte stated that the United States and France have shared other important moments in history in the past two centuries. "This year, on the 6th of June, we will commemorate the 60th anniversary of 'D Day'," stated Levitte. "President Bush will be with President Chirac on the beaches of Normandy. All the French people in one voice will say once again, 'we will never forget what the American people did for France'." "With the commemoration of the Louisiana Purchase, it is important for our two peoples to remember our shared history, based on shared values of democracy, freedom and liberty," concluded Levitte. "I see no reason why this love affair wouldn't continue into the 21st century if we are able to celebrate this partnership and this friendship." During the press conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Judge Craig Manson presented Three Flags Festival commemorative pins to James Roan Gray, principal chief of the Osage Nation, French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte and Mayor Francis Slay. Lewis and Clark Historical Maps Unveiled at Mercantile Library March 12 - (L. to R.) John Hoover, director of Mercantile Library at University of Missouri-St. Louis, Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-59th District) and Wendell Smith, executive director University of Missouri-St. Louis attended the unveiling of an exhibit of 1800s maps, "Revealing the Louisiana Purchase: Lewis and Clark Shaping of America" and a fur trade exhibit, "St. Louis: the Fur Trade and the Beginnings of the American West" at the Library. The Fur Trade exhibit features a collection by Frederick Fausz, associate professor of History at University of Missouri-St. Louis. "President Jefferson had cast a number of "Peace Medals" and it was his habit to distribute the medals to people that were significant and with whom he wanted to build alliances," Judge Manson told Saint Louis Front Page after the conference. "The Lewis and Clark Expedition took a number of peace medals with them that were given to several of the tribes that they encountered." Manson stated that the pin he presented to the dignitaries was an exact replica of the Peace Medal developed by the Department of the Interior and National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial people who are running the Tent of Many Voices and other bicentennial activities. "It's the same medal that will appear on the back of the new nickel that will be unveiled by the United States Mint tomorrow during the Three Flags Ceremony," stated Manson. See related story: Three Flags Festival at Gateway Arch Three Flags Festival Family Activities in Forest Park Art of the Osage Exhibition Opens at the Saint Louis Art Museum The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group .

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