Ambassador's Independence Day remarks

Frogner Park, Oslo, July 4, 2010

 It’s a real pleasure to wish you all a very happy Independence Day in honor of the United States of America’s 234th Birthday.   It’s great to see this huge turnout on the actual  July 4th.  The U.S. Embassy is always told not to plan anything in late June because everyone goes on vacation.  The American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN) is to be commended for overcoming this local challenge every year.   And you have been able to do it for 25 years!!  It demonstrates how popular this American and Norwegian tradition is here. 

This is my first July 4th in Norway.  Being abroad makes you appreciate the many cultures around the world.  It also makes you appreciate America more, particularly its traditions, its history and its values.  These American essentials shine through wherever we are.   On Independence Day, we are reminded every year of our nation’s birth, its growing pains and its sometimes rocky path to bring freedom and equality for all Americans.  An artisan wrote on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”  We are fortunate to be citizens of a nation whose guiding principle is to protect and cultivate freedom.  But, we should never take our freedom for granted, as freedom requires our constant vigilance and attention in order to flourish. 

As Americans, we should be proud of our continuing efforts to advance the cause of freedom around the globe.  In fact, much of the work we do with Norway is aimed at advancing peace in prosperity.  While America has at times felt sheltered by oceans and our size can make some feel invulnerable, or just disconnected from the world, our proudest moments have been of shared sacrifice, shared achievement, and shared values.   I think it is fitting today to remember the sacrifices of  all the troops in the Armed Forces.  Let us remember they are not just   Americans, but they are Norwegians.   I want to thank all of you—American and Norwegian, for your service and remember those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.  Our fates and our futures are intertwined like never before.  No one nation can meet today’s global challenges alone. We all share responsibility for working together to ensure a more peaceful and prosperous future.  

Americans are an optimistic people, and with good reason given our blessings.  As we say Happy Birthday, we thus look forward as well as back.  We know what our ancestors achieved.  We know we have good friends here and around the world.  We know that by working together, those believing in freedom and prosperity face a bright future, as well as a glorious past. This is a day to reconnect with loved ones, to remember our history, and to renew our commitment to democracy, tolerance, and justice.  As President Obama said in Cairo last year, these are not just American values, these are core principles we share with people everywhere.

I send special thanks and congratulations to the ACCN of  Norway for organizing the annual Independence Day event in Oslo.   For twenty five years, the ACCN has provided this wonderful opportunity for Americans and Norwegians to come together to celebrate liberty and freedom.   My wife Eleanor and I hope you and your families have a wonderful  Fourth of July.