Speech at visit to Minneapolis

Vice President Mondale,

Mayor Winstead

Ambassador Strømmen,

Honorary Consul Gandrud

kjære venner,

Thank you for your warm welcome.

And thank you for inviting us here to honour the past and celebrate new partnerships for the future.

Ours is a partnership that truly began in 1825, when the sloop “Restoration” set sail for America.

Since then, generations of Norwegians have followed in their wake.

Seeing America as a place to make a better future for themselves and their families.

They settled in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in the Northeast,

in Texas in the South,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and here in the Midwest.

The heart of Norwegian America.

We all know the facts.

There are more Norwegian Americans in the US than there are Norwegians in Norway.

With the exception of Ireland, no single country saw a larger share of its population emigrate to America.

A fifth of Minnesota’s inhabitants are of Norwegian descent.

But what may be less well known, are all their compelling stories.

The stories of the unsung heroes who fought the good fight in the Civil War.

Nearly one in ten Norwegian emigrants faught in that war.

Many joined the fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment. 90 per cent of the soldiers in the fifteenth were born in Norway.

Many of them spoke no English when they enlisted to ”save the new fatherland”.

Taking part in the war generated a new sense of patriotism.

It earned them their rightful place in America. 

 

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During World War II, another unique unit was formed in the US Army.

The 99th infantry battalion were made up of 950 Norwegian Americans.

Members of this unit were the only American soldiers to serve in Norway during World War II.

Under the command of William Colby, who was later to become director of the CIA, they stopped 150 000 German soldiers by blowing up sections of the Northern Norway railway.

After the war the unit returned to Minnesota with honour.

And with fifty new female Norwegian emigrants.

There is a direct line from Norwegian-American cooperation during World War II to our cooperation in NATO through the last 60 years.

And from those brave men and women in World War II to the US and Norwegian troops who today serve in Afghanistan to defend our common security.

But the reason we look to America with admiration,

with hope and expectation,

is not its military might.

But what it has meant and can do for the freedom of all people.

For equal opportunity and the pursuit of happiness.

The American dream is also our dream.

Venner,

Land, school, church.

These formed the bedrock of Norwegian-American lives.

And they gave rise to the many voluntary associations and Norwegian-American universities that many of you represent.

You are the bonds that tie our two countries together.

We are proud of your achievements.

We are proud of your contributions to American society.

And we are proud of those of Norwegian descent who have made a very public mark on America.

The pioneers and storytellers - Cleng Peerson, Garrison Keillor, Siri Hustvedt.

The politicians - Earl Warren, Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale.

The athletes – Knute Rockne, Babe Didrikson, Jan Stenerud.

The businesspeople – Arthur Andersen, Conrad Hilton, Fred Kavli.

And the visionaries – Earl Bakken, Thorstein Veblen and Norman Borlaug - the father of the “green revolution”.

Today at Cedar Creek I saw the beginning of what may be a new green revolution.

The prairie grass project offers the promise of a new and more environmentally friendly bio-fuel.

Finding new and clean sources of energy is an area of scientific cooperation between the University of Minnesota and the University of Life Sciences in Norway.

A fine example of a partnership for the future.

Venner,

Now, I know there was concern over the Consulate General.

Have no fear.

We are here to stay.

And we are a lucky country.

We managed to secure Vice President

Mondale, the great son of Minnesota and great grandson of Norway, to oversee our relations and promote our common interests.

A unique asset for fostering Norwegian American cooperation in the Midwest.

I am convinced that under the leadership of Vice President Mondale and Honorary Consul Gandrud, we will develop a partnership for the 21st century.

Our focus will be on nurturing innovation, scientific partnerships and business opportunities that give direction for this century and beyond. 

We are embarking on a new journey. We are making a new beginning.

Much like the emigrants on the “Restoration” and the thousands that followed.

And I am confident our future will be as great as our past.

Thank you.