June 29, 2012 - Independence Day Celebrations

Ambassador Fulton delivering remarks at the 2012 Independence Day Celebrations (Photo: Omar Ingerslev)

Independence Day
June 29, 2012
Rydhave

Welcome to Rydhave. Thank you for joining me to celebrate this Independence Day.

For me it is a special privilege to be President Obama’s representative in Denmark. My Danish heritage has been an important influence throughout my life.

Thirty of my Danish relatives are here with me today. Thanks to them, I love lagkage; I can appreciate schnaps, particularly with herring; I can tolerate Gammeldansk – men jeg kan ikke snakke dansk.

We are four generations of descendants from Mads Frederik Jensen-Aale, a husman who served in the Danish Parliament – Landsting – from 1918-1940.

Independence Day has always been a joyous time for me. The 4th of July is our national holiday because that is date written at the top of the hand-written Declaration of Independence. The declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. It was written only because on the 2nd of July, 1776 the Continental Congress, which was gathered in Philadelphia, voted to declare independence from Britain.

The 2nd of July also is my birthday. I am delighted that my children and grandchildren, who love Denmark, will be with me in Denmark to celebrate my birthday – and Kelly, Eric, Ava and Benji are here today to celebrate Independence Day also.

In 1910, my grandfather Jens Jensen emigrated from Denmark to the United States. Among the traditions he brought from his Danish family was the respect for and commitment to participation in politics and government as a way to be certain that everyone – no matter how small or insignificant – would be represented. 

He also instilled in my mother a strong sense of pride in being of Danish heritage, a pride that continues even with my grandchildren. I am proud to say that my grandchildren Ava and Benji, whose other grandmother is from the Netherlands, cheered for Denmark in the opening Euro Cup match!

The patriotism that emanates from the natural beauty and rich histories of our countries is among the common ideals that underlie U.S.-Danish relations. Danes and Americans share strong beliefs that human freedom is fundamental and that human rights should be afforded to all.

The song “America” says it all:

My country tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died!

Land of the Pilgrim’s pride!

From every mountain side,

Let freedom ring!

These beautiful words were written 180 years ago by a theological student in Andover, Massachusetts, Samuel Francis Smith. While he was translating hymns, he learned that German school children began every day with a hymn. It was for American school children that he wrote, “America, My Country Tis of Thee.” This song was first performed at a children's 4th of July celebration at Park Street Church in Boston on July 4, 1832.

By 1832, America had proved its grit. It won the War of 1812, often called the “second war for independence” twenty years earlier. Twenty four states were part of our Union. Westward expansion was well underway, and the American artist George Catlin lived among the Sioux in my native Dakota Territory. 

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love.

I love the rocks and rills, 

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture fills

Like that above.

The song “America” captured the sense of patriotism and was an unofficial national anthem before the Star Spangled Banner was so designated in 1931.

But you Danes have a parallel song.

O where does summer strew her bed all over

With lovelier flowers than here, by open strand?

Where shines the silver moon on field of clover

So bright as in the beech’s native land?

You windswept Danish strand,

Where Dannebrog is waving,

You came – o flag – from God,

Our foes outbraving!

Tis you I love – Denmark my native land.

This is the second stanza of Hans Christian Andersen’s “I Danmark er jeg født” or “Denmark, My Native Land.” Andersen wrote this during the war between Denmark and Germany in 1850.

Both of these hymns are known by every school child and adult in our respective countries. Both poets struck the soul of patriotism with words that are inspiring and imaginative. But it is the symbolism of that moves us.

“From every mountain side, let freedom ring!”

Martin Luther King drew on these words in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963.

“And I say to you today my friends, let freedom ring. From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire, let freedom ring.

From the mighty mountains of New York, let freedom ring. From the mighty Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! 

Let freedom ring from the snow capped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only there; let freedom ring from the Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill in Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring."

Sung in “America,” these words had special meaning when Aretha Franklin sang this song for President Obama on the occasion of his historic inauguration on January 20, 2009.

“Let Freedom ring!”

We are reminded of people in countries like Somalia, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Egypt – who seek to establish governments that recognize basic human rights and provide for basic human freedom.

“Let Freedom ring!” We are reminded that freedom did not come easy in our own histories. Some say that church bells rang out in Denmark on May 5, 1945 when the Germans surrendered. It is widely believed that the Liberty Bell rang out on July 8, 1776 to call Philadelphians together to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. Historians doubt whether the steeple at Independence Hall was really in sufficient condition to allow the bell to be tolled – but the vision continues.

“Let Freedom ring!” We are reminded that freedom can be elusive and depends on our continuing devotion during celebrations like this one in which we rejoice in our democratic principles.

So let us today, Danes, Americans and friends, renew our dedication to our common values of freedom and human rights. 

A hearty thank you to the many sponsors without whose support today’s celebration would not be possible.

A special thanks to the U.S. Navy in Europe woodwind quintet.

“Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees,

Sweet Freedom's song.”

Let freedom ring!

Thank you for joining me and have a happy Independence Day.