The Sons of Norway members in the nation's capital, representing a diversity of background and nationality, share an interest in all things Norwegian and Scandinavian. We trust that all ages will find something of interest -- in our web site and in our lodge. We have around 300 members. Most are from the local area of DC, Maryland, and Virginia, but we also have members from another 16 states as well as Norway, Canada, and Great Britain (many of whom have a connection to the area). Our lodge has around 400 members from the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. We are one of hundreds Sons of Norway lodges throughout the United States, Canada and Norway. Learn more about us or Join Sons of Norway. For information on membership, contact Shelley Mitchell (703-815-4367) or vp@norwaydc.org . For other information, contact Dave Brown president@norwaydc.org . The Norwegian History Roundtable has launched a new website. Norwegian History Roundtable Get the latest news & events in our monthly newsletter: Lodge Meetings & Events Norwegian Environmental Issues, Jon Berg, the counselor for climate and environment at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington DC. Saturday March 20th 7 PM Zoom information will be sent out before the 20th. Upcoming Meetings April 17, Understanding the Norwegian American Experience. Erik Pihl, National Nordic Museum’s Director of Development. May 15, World War II and my family, NINA BRAMBANI SMITH June 19, ‘Norwegian ‘Mayflower’: The Voyage of the Restauration, Dale Goodman, Member of Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Board and a direct descendent Restauration passengers. Norwegian History Roundtable (NHR) “Norway and the Battle of the Atlantic”
We will be having an exciting two-part program “Norway and the Battle of the Atlantic” on March 9th and April 13th. The Battle of the Atlantic, which began hours after the war began in 1939 and lasted to VE day in 1945, was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II. It has been called the "longest, largest, and most complex" naval battle in history. The allied victory in this theater was critical to overall victory in the war. We have assembled outstanding three speakers to help us understand the critical role of Norway in the Battle of the Atlantic. Historian Jorgen Flood has written over a dozen books on Norway, Scandinavia, and World War II. He is a popular speaker and has given great presentations to the NHR, Washington Lodge, and other outstanding groups. Phil Eskeland will discuss his father’s service as a Norwegian merchant seaman during World War II. Phil was a featured speaker at the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Norway last year. John Lunde will describe his father’s war time experience. Captain Birger Lunde experienced being sunk by U-boats three times, leaving two sinking ships, narrowly escaping U-Boat pursuit, enduring many days in a lifeboat, being treated in an Icelandic hospital, undergoing extensive back surgery in New York City, living through aerial attacks, and participating in D-Day. The meetings are at 7 PM and are on Zoom. If you are interested, please contact Bill DeRoche programs@NorwayDC.org We now have a dedicated website for the NHR. NHR Website. This will provide up to date information about the NHR. As the organization grows, it will provide information and links relevant to Norwegian History. You are welcome to contribute to the website.  Do you want to connect with your inner Viking? Do you want to understand the conditions that prompted your ancestors to uproot their lives and go to America? Do you want to appreciate the men and woman who created Norwegian culture? Do you want to experience the trials and triumphs of Norway in WWII? In short – are you interested in Norwegian history? I would like to set up a Norwegian History Round Table. It will offer speakers, debates, field trips, demonstrations of historic crafts, and round table discussions. The round table will be an extended show and tell. You can share a book or magazine, show a historic artifact, alert us to an upcoming event, ask a question, read from an article that you are writing, or suggest some other activities or projects related to our history. The Round Table will be for everyone, from the complete novice to the international authority. Bill DeRoche If you are interested, please contact me at programs@norwaydc.org. Genealogy Interest Group (GIG) Searching Parish Records in
Digitalarkivet By Genealogy Interest Group (GIG) Co-Chair Joel Myklebust, January 23. We are fortunate to have a great resource for
researching Norwegian genealogy, Digitalarkivet.no, Norwegian Digital Archives . The archives include a wealth of documents including
scanned and transcribed church records, census
records, land ownership, estates and emigration.
The Genealogy Interest Group (GIG) met on Zoom
to discuss ways to access the parish records. If you have questions or are interested in the GIG,
please email genealogy@norwaydc.org. The next
Zoom meeting will be on January 23 at 3 PM We are pleased to announce that Paul Arneson
has agreed to take the leadership of the GIG.
Paul is the author of the book I Couldn’t Milk Another Goat, based on conversations with his
grandmother Carrie (Kari) Kirkeeide about her
life’s journey
from Nordfjord,
Norway to Minneapolis, MN
(the topic of a
recent lodge
Zoom meeting).
Joel Myklebust
will continue to
assist Paul in
this role.
Paul and Joel
recently sent a questionnaire to the GIG to help
develop future programs. The genealogical interest group (GIG) helps members with varying degrees of experience in genealogy an  The Reading Circle Reading Circle Selection for February The lodge’s Reading Circle members have chosen six interesting books for
2021. We will meet via zoom at 7:30 PM. If you plan to attend, please contact Christine Meloni by midnight
on February 22nd at reading@norwaydc.org and she will send you the link. Richard Henninger will be
the facilitator. Everyone is welcome to join us. The book is available both in paperback and on Kindle.
Looking ahead, the other works to be discussed this year are The Quisling Factor by J.L. Oakley (the
author will join us and be the facilitator), The Master Builder by Ibsen (Laurie Jaghlit as facilitator), The
Mercies by Kirin Millwood Hargrave, Child Wonder by Roy Jacobsen, and One of Us: The Story of a
Massacre in Norway and Its Aftermath by Asne Seierstad (Laurie Jaghlit as facilitator). WWII Liberation Commemoration Our lodge, along with the Norwegian Society and Church Service of Washington, DC and the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce, hosted a virtual commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Norwegian liberation from WWII German occupation. We’d planned to hold this event earlier at Norway House, around May 8, when Liberation Day is celebrated in Norway. But of course we had to postpone. Colonel Håvard Klevberg, Air Attaché and Assistant Defense Attaché to the Royal Norwegian Embassy, gave the give the main address. Members of our groups shared stories and memories from members who were in Norway t the time — our living witnesses to history. We have posted a video of this event on our YouTube Channel. This event has been postponed We are fortunate to have talented fiber artist Karen Richardson to lead a new Nee  dless Felting Workshop where we’ll make this Nordic-inspired polar bear. Join us on Saturday, April 4, for the 4th needle felting workshop sponsored by the Lodge. Karen uses only natural wool for these unique creations. The $65 fee includes 6 hours of instruction, all materials needed for one polar bear, continental breakfast, a light lunch, and beverages. At present Karen cannot accept credit cards so please bring cash (preferred) or a check. She will have additional materials available for purchase to make your own creations at home.We will start promptly at 9:30 AM and end around 4:00 PM. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Please contact Denise Bowden at festival@norwaydc.org to reserve your spot in another fun workshop! Norway House is at 3846 Meredith Dr., Fairfax, VA. . Norwegian Language & Conversation The lodge’s language classes are suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic. When it is safe to meet again, Wednesday evening classes will resume. |
|
|
