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Celebration Marks 1781 Yorktown Battle

YORKTOWN, Va. -- French and Americans marched together to mark their shared victory over the British 225 years ago, but France's defense minister told the crowd that the countries' bond must be one of mutual respect.

Friendship means "to talk to one another quite candidly" and to listen to one another with "no attempt to dominate," French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told the crowd that gathered Thursday to commemorate the Battle of Yorktown's 225th anniversary.

British Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered on Oct. 19, 1781, sealing the American colonists' victory in the Revolutionary War. French troops under Gen. Jean-Baptiste Rochambeau had joined U.S. troops under Gen. George Washington in routing the redcoats.
Read entire article at AP