Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

Dutch-American Friendship Day:
In 1982, we got a Resolution through both
houses of Congress declaring April 19 Dutch-
American Friendship Day. On that day in 1782,
the Dutch nation recognized the independence
of the United States. The ties between the
Netherlands and the USA have been unbroken
for more than 241 years. Each year, we give a
Certificate of Appreciation to a Dutch person
who significantly contributes to that friendship.
Thanksgiving at the Pieterskerk in Leiden:
On Thanksgiving morning, we hold a
non-denominational service at the
Pieterskerk in Leiden. The Pilgrims
lived around that church from 1609
to 1620. Many of them left from
Leiden to ultimately sail on the
Mayflower. The idea for the Mayflower
Compact might have come from the
Dutch. A Dutch descendant of Moses
Fletcher, a signatory of the Mayflower
Compact, always tells her story. Her
family are the only non-American
members of the Mayflower Society.
The 4 th of May:
On the evening of the 4 th of May, the
Dutch Memorial Eve, we participate
in a ceremony in memory of WWII
and all those who since have lost
their lives in the ongoing struggles for
freedom. We ask the United States
Marines to represent our community
and lay our wreath at that ceremony.
Their presence is extremely meaningful for
the Dutch people and the young Marines.
Memorial Day at
Margraten American
Cemetery:
We contribute two
wreaths for Memorial
Day at Margraten, the
American cemetery
where there are 8,301
graves and 1,722 names
on the Wall of the
Missing. We ask US
combat veterans to
lay those wreaths. On
the eve of Memorial
Day, we join with the
Netherlands-American
Institute of Limburg to
honor our heroes.
The 4 th of July Picnic:
The picnic is a bit of the USA in Holland - Uncle
Sam comes, we register people to vote, the
Marines present the colors, followed by a kids'
Flag Parade. We even read excerpts from the
Declaration of Independence. After that, it’s
hot dogs, cookies, and games with all our Dutch
friends and neighbors.
A cake celebrating Dutch-American Friendship Day (above)
Little pilgrims at the Thanksgiving service (bottom)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute and Dinner:
We started this dinner in 1986, the first year
the holiday was officially celebrated in the USA.
We always invite our Dutch friends to join us and
usually have Dutch and international participation.
Fourth of July Kids' Parade (above)
Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute ceremony (bottom)
The Ceremony of Remembrance and Hope:
It happens each year on September 11. We
read names and letters from families and
comrades of firefighters and police who died.
We tell some of their stories. “September 11
will never be another day. It is engraved in our
collective memory.” This year, a Dutch woman
who saw the plane go into the second Tower
told her story.
The “Who’s the President? Breakfast”:
It happens on the day after the US Presidential
Election, beginning at 5:00 a.m. – just when
the results start coming in on the East Coast.
We usually get about 1,000 people. The
embassy invites their contacts and we open
up attendance to everyone. The Dutch people
just love coming. We do it in the Kurhaus Hotel,
which has a huge room with a domed ceiling.
We hang up all the state flags and the whole
place is red, white and blue. The Dutch people
get very involved with our election and follow it
closely. It is a way for us to come together and
try to answer questions they may have.
Voter Registration:
Why should we vote? As Americans living
abroad, we are held responsible by locals for
the actions of our country. If we are to be held
responsible, we should certainly make our
opinions count!
Is there a culture you’d like to learn more
about? Why?
I’d probably like to learn more about the
Golden Age of Greece and how, in such a short
time, it produced great dramatists, philosophers
and provided us with ideas
that are basic
to democracy.
What’s your favorite cultural
tradition?
No question about it - it’s
Thanksgiving at my house
with at least 20 really good
friends.
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