{4th of July Speech given by my husband Pieter}

Worthwhile sharing this speech by my husband Pieter, given to the people of Laurens County, prior to the fireworks.

The 4^th of July 1994

The United States and Georgia State Flag on July 4th 2002
Those weeping ilex trees are no more...

Thanks for the kind introduction; now you know almost all about the two of us. For the introduction of a speaker a typical question always is, what is exactly your title? In a certain booklet we found that there actually is no prouder title then to be an American citizen. Although the weather is not cooperating too well, today we have something really important to celebrate as you all know, we celebrate Uncle Sam's 218^th Birthday; the birth of this great nation.

In the introduction you have heard that we are new Americans, although we came to this country already in '83. My wife's love affair with the U.S.A. started in April of '83; her very first visit to the New World. Some Campbell Soup people taught her at that time some history by visiting Rockford, MI, where president Ford grew up. They thought maybe she was homesick and thus they brought her to Holland in MI.

Holland Michigan on the shore of Lake Michigan

She was not homesick but just absorbing all she could about this fascinating new world. One of the highlights was the visit to Chestnut Street in Philadelphia; to the Independence Hall; the home of the Liberty Bell, a shrine of patriotism for all Americans. There we learned more about Life with a capital L and also about Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Pieter with  our foster-daughter Anita, in 2004 in front of the Liberty Bell

View from the Hershey hotel in Philadelphia where we stayed

  The next day we flew to Dublin, GA and there we fell deeper and deeper in love with the New World.

From Camden, New Jersey we flew on the Learjet from Campbell Soup to Dublin, Georgia on Saturday, April 23 of 1983
Wearing my red Campbell jacket...

So in August of '83 we came to live here. This was our pursuit of Happiness. Last year (1993) we got our American citizenship and since then we can say: we are Dutch by birth and American by choice and we are proud of both. There are a couple of reasons for that pride. Maybe you didn't know but the Dutch, of any nation, have the longest uninterrupted friendly relationship with the U.S.A. and for sure we like to keep it that way. It was on Nov. 16 in 1776 that the ford on the Dutch island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean returned the salute from the American warship Andrew Doria, as it entered the harbour. This was the first salute by a foreign power to the flag of the U.S.A. of America. As the history books say: this was a very courageous action by the Dutch and it enhanced the diplomatic credibility of the U.S.A. It also gave a strong boost to the moral of the revolutionary troops. So, today it is 218 years ago that the U.S.A. has been founded. In the Dutch tradition, Birthdays always are important events, often celebrated with an all day open house, birthday gifts etc. A good question, not only for us but for all immigrants could be: why did you come to the U.S.A? What did we expect to find here what we eventually didn't have in the country where we lived before? Although a lot of things have changed since then, the answer will be more or less identical to what brought the founding fathers to this part of the world over 200 years ago. The most important reason for them was the freedom and the space to live in the broadest sense. The freedom to believe in God in different ways; the freedom to have your own opinion, the opportunity to develop yourself up to the limits etc. On this Birthday we should never forget that the founding fathers and after them numerous immigrants have for sure not chosen the easiest way. They didn't find a paradise; they just found a place with almost unlimited opportunities but they had to be explored. Very important also is that their freedom was based on a strong moral and on personal responsibility. That, in combination with hard work, made this country into what it is today; in our opinion the best country to live in. We have a number of good reasons to make this statement. As you perhaps know, or picked up from the introduction, for our job we traveled, and still do, all over the world and lived in several countries We lived in Dublin from '83 through '88 and after that in Italy and Indonesia. We more and more discovered what a great country the U.S.A. is to live in; we got homesick and looked for every opportunity to return. With O'Henry contribute our share in what the founding fathers once started. They worked hard to develop this country, made it prosperous and a better place to live. They installed and maintained high moral values, based on a strong believe in God. They've shown the world that they could handle their freedom. Our forefathers didn't contribute frivolous gifts to this country. So, let's celebrate this Birthday of our nation not only with a spectacular firework but let's wrap up a big box for Uncle Sam, containing: A huge amount of humility, a lot of tolerance, respect for each other and patience, the most of integrity and compassion and a strong will to share freely with others.

Thank you  Founding Fathers.

Happy Birthday Uncle Sam; we love this country. May God bless this nation and all of us.

Pieter J.C. Vedder

Also for today, Happy 235th Birthday United States of America!!!

Related link:

Flying Over Our Home and Campbell Mushroom Plant that Pieter Designed | later post by me

Husband Pieter's 1994, 4th of July Speech | later post by me with actual video of speech

{The Dutch 1st to Salute to the Flag of The United States in 1776}

In our home we have a framed print from Philips Melville, from the salute of 11 guns from the Dutch island of Eustatius in the Caribbean to the Andrew Doria that was flying the American Flag. Thus making the Dutch the first foreign nation to salute to the American Flag. This was in November of 1776. Read more: Andrew Doria, scroll towards the bottom. This was given to us on one of the official Dutch American Heritage Days, in Atlanta.  

Andrew Doria receives a salute from the Dutch fort at St. Eustatius, 16 November 1776, the first rendered to the United States Flag by a foreign power, as depicted in this painting by Philips Melville.

Dutch - American Heritage Day: 1991

By the President of the United States of America, George Bush

A Proclamation

On November 16, 1776, a small American warship, the ANDREW DORIA, sailed into the harbor of the tiny Dutch island of St. Eustatius in the West Indies. Only 4 months before, the United States had declared its independence from Great Britain. The American crew was delighted when the governor of the island, Johannes de Graaf, ordered that his fort's cannons be fired in a friendly salute. The first ever given by a foreign power to the flag of the United States, it was a risky and courageous act. Indeed, angered by Dutch trading and contraband with the rebellious colonies, the British seized the island a few years later. De Graaf's welcoming salute was also a sign of respect, and today it continues to symbolize the deep ties of friendship that exist between the United States and the Netherlands.

After more than 200 years, the bonds between the United States and the Netherlands remain strong. Our diplomatic ties, in fact, constitute one of the longest unbroken diplomatic relationships with any foreign country. Read more: The Hague US Embassy. Click on Friendship Day

Related link:

{Dutch - American Heritage Day: November 16 since 1991} | Previous post by me

{Parcel from Greece with Regal Gift}

Well, the first day of July was a special one. Parcels arrived with some replacements of our favorite plants and a special one from Greece... Will tell about the plants later! Let's go first to Greece, to the country so rich in culture and yet with so many problems right now. In a way, they're not unique as we are heading fast into the same direction. But I'm not going to write about our economy.

This was a happy parcel from a dear new friend, a kindred spirit, who was meant to cross my path.

Things do happen for a reason; no doubt! Following Catherine's blog Corner of Cat's Mind I got to meet Joan from God's Little People and I happened to be her 100th follower. Her reply to that was: 'I would love to send you a little something from my own creative creations as a celebration of my 100th follower'... So a parcel left Greece on June 16 but got kind of stranded in Athens because of a strike... Today, the post master did ring the doorbell and asked my signature for a parcel from Greece! First I was amazed at the beautiful, large stamps. Well, I did collect stamps as a little girl and whenever my Great-Uncle 'Heeroom' send us a letter from his mission in Kupang on the Island of Timor, Indonesia, I was studying those stamps in detail. That's how you learn a lot about a given country. Greece has never been on my list of countries visited, only my brother, the author, has been there several times with his family. But now I held a parcel in my hands from over there...

The parcel got roughed up along the way...

Beautiful handwriting... this always does reveal so much about a person.

So sorry that Joan did send it via Express but due to the strike it got here after 2 weeks...

Beautiful handwriting again caught my eye... lovely way of wrapping and a meaningful card with letter inside.

I took it out on the balcony for making these photos.

Joan is such a kind lady as she is rescuing felines and giving them love and veterinarian treatment... A person with a big heart! You have to visit her blog... A reward would be to follow this extraordinary person.

She certainly did create PEACE for those lucky felines that, through her, got to know for the first time in their life LOVE and shelter.

Joan too has studied fashion for three years and she did run for 13 years her own small design company, designing bags and accessories... So this one she created for me. Beautiful silk crêpe de chine and lined in a leopard print silk.

Look at the elegant golden lobster claw and the slide buckle with rhine stones!

Ha, did she know I had an Escada hair calf skirt with leopard and tiger print?

Or that our felines dress up for formal occasions in a leopard bow-tie? Telepathy it looks like!

Unbelievable...

Look again at that lobster claw and the slide buckle.

And realizing that this poor beauty has been smashed inside a parcel for two weeks...

Once more, it made me almost speechless for the way it matches my wardrobe.

Oh and this silk Escada blouse to the right in leopard print, and the big square Escada silk scarf that can be worn as a butterfly with the ends knotted and made into sleeves... How did she possibly know all this?!

Even with a golden magnetic snap closure, just like the haute couture bags are done.

Joan, I am without words and only can say THANK YOU  ever so much for such a treasure.

The material is regal and knowing it was designed and made by you makes it priceless!

Yes, Joan... my Mami is really without words! So she lets me finish the story. I'm one of those tiny felines, that you call 'God's Little People' and my name is Tiggy-Tiger. Mami said there was in the couture world a model who's name was Twiggy... So for a feline, Tiggy would work better. I am only a mere 6 pounds but I'm very smart and as hyper as they come... I can't even keep my bow-tie straight. Constantly moving and I gave Mami a hard time to capture me on camera.

Mami told me about your Noona and I am really worried about her. I pray that soon she will feel better and finally will know some love.

Oh, and Kimmie's fate made me really get down...

All I ever had was a tiny piece bitten out of my ear; that's nothing. My own fault because I went away to see other friends because my siblings did tease and nag me. Now I stay home more often, close to Mami. She was right but you know, I was young...

Would you PLEASE give Noona a paw for me?!

I soon want to hear from Mami that she's doing better.

All felines should have the life I have; I'm purrfectly happy you know!

By for now and thanks for making my Mami happy!!!