
Today, The 17th of May, is the Norwegian Constitution Day, and it will be celebrated in the traditional Norwegian way, as I have described
elsewhere. However, last year the celebration was a bit different for my family and myself.
People from Norway will perhaps have some problems in recognizing this from the photo above. It shows the Band of the Bergen Police
(Bergen Politiorkester) with their families ready for a traditional parade. But if they look closely they will see that the background is not Bergen (my home town). It is Brooklyn, New York City. And the Band was the guests of honour.
In the first half of last Century about 100 000 Norwegians settled in Brooklyn and formed their own neighbourhood. That included their own celebration of the Norwegian 17th of May. As with many other things, people have moved on and neighbourhoods have changed. But the celebration is still there and attracts Norwegians from all over the World :-)

Last year the guests of honour played the socks off all the other bands present ...

Of course there was a proper Norwegian-American 17th of May committee

For a guest from Norway it was especially touching to see this old lady putting on her
Bunad and insisting in taking part.

And some male veterans seemed to have an equally good time.

The younger generation was present too.

Of course there were Speeches of the Day, but I must admit that I did not catch this gentleman's name. He was a well-known American sportsman of Norwegian extraction. Maybe some of the passers by will enlighten me?
In every way this was the most special 17th of May Celebration I have ever taken part in.