Festive Swedish National Day Celebration at the Residence in Washington, D.C.

Posted by Susanna at 2:34 PM, Jun 7, 2010 (Comments)

Category: Events

Swedish ambassador Jonas Hafström speaks at the National Day at the residence in Northwest Washington.

WHAT A GREAT event it was! Heat, unbearable humidity and dark clouds didn't ruin the Swedish National Day celebration, with a picnic at the Swedish residence in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 6. By the time the event started at 6 p.m. the rain and thunderstorms were gone, and there was a pleasant almost cool breeze, reminiscent of a classic Swedish summer day.

AMBASSADOR Jonas Hafström gave a traditional and humorous speech to the guests. He mentioned that Swedes can be proud of the good relations between Sweden and the United States, and that the work of building those good relations are carried out every day by Swedish-Americans. "Since the inauguration of the House of Sweden in the fall of 2006, we have had 200,000 visitors, and it was appointed "Venue of the Year 2008" by The Washington Post," Hafström pointed out.

Sophia Angelini, Anna-Carin Rooney, who is the chair of the Swedish Church of Washington, D.C.'s parish council, and Christina Ternblom Lazdins.

LUND UNIVERSITY Academic Orchestra, led by Patrik Andersson, performed during the celebration. Among the pieces were the Swedish national hymn "Du gamla, Du fria," the American national march "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa, and a movement from Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony. All of the selections were very popular, so popular in fact that the crowd's enthusiastic applause brought the director back for an encore or igen til! They played more of "Stars and Stripes Forever." The orchestra, which is touring the U.S., is the third oldest in Sweden and was founded in 1745.

Lund University Academic Orchestra performs.

Terrie Nelson, Paul Johnson and Ingrid Beach

Margaretha Bull and Catharina Ford

Gerry Schueman and his wife Margaret with "patriotic" T-shirts with the text "SWEDES - If you can't be one -- live like one! It's fun!" and "HOW SWEDE IT IS."

Vanja Huth, Sophia Angelini and Anders Lundegård

Anna Öfverström is giving out her own copies of the Swedish royal magazine, Svensk Damtidning...

  A few members of Lund University Academic Orchestra performed earlier in the day at Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C.

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