The White Falcon - 17.06.1994, Blaðsíða 1

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Inside
Features ...2-9
TV Schedule... 10
Classifieds 11
Sports 12
Glasnost, 56 RQS style!
Two helicopter crews from the 56th Rescue Squadron return to Keflavfk after saving a Russian
fisherman. From left: (kneeling) Senior Airman Chaz Stiefken, Staff Sgt. William Peterson, Senior
Airman Robbie Bean, Staff Sgt. Mike Ziegler; (standing) Capt. Matthew Gee, Senior Airman Jeff
Frembling, Capt. Chuck Shrout, Staff Sgt. Frank Bernal, Capt. John Blumentritt, Lt. Col. Bob
Donnelly, Capt. Philip Mayfield. Four days later, another helicopter crew was off to save an
Estonian fisherman. For more on the rescues, see pages 6-7. (Photo by JOl David W. Crenshaw)
Iceland celebrates 50 years of independence
By Einar Porfiarson
Overseas Duty Support Program Coordinator
Family Service Center
In 1830, the Danish monarchy covered the
northern part of Germany as well as Iceland,
Greenland, and the Faeroe Islands. Shortly
afterward, an advisory congress in Denmark
was established, and another such congress was
established in Iceland in 1845. This greatly
pleased the Icelandic people, for they viewed
this as the reestablishment of the old Althing,
which had governed Iceland from 930 until
1262.
In 1848, the king of Denmark gave up some
of his authority to the congress, marking the
end of the Danish monarchy. The actual rulers
were ministers, selected by a congress which
was in turn elected by the taxpayers. In 1871,
the Danish king confirmed a law that had been
passed by the Danish parliament, stating that
Iceland was an inseparable part of Denmark.
The Althingi objected, but the king responded
by appointing an earl over Iceland, and it was
not until 1903 that a separate Ministry of
Icelandic Affairs was established in the Danish
government.
In 1874, Iceland obtained permission from
Denmark to make their own laws and handle
their own financial affairs; the ultimate authori-
ty remained with the Danish government and
king. As a colony, Iceland paid taxes to
Denmark.
One emotionally-charged issue of the time
concerned the national flag. The Icelanders
asked permission to use a blue flag with a white
cross on it to identify Icelandic ships in interna-
tional waters. This request was turned down,
but the flag was very popular and widely used in
Iceland anyway. One summer day in 1913, an
Icelandic shopkeeper took his boat out in the
Reykjavik harbor and hoisted his blue and
white flag. A captain of a Danish gunboat saw
this and had the man arrested, stirring up a lot
See Independence, page 9
Icelandic Comer
Happy anniversary
(independence day)
Tii hamingju med daginn
(Til ha-ming-ju meth da-
gin)

Arbor Bay
NAS Keflavfk celebrat-
ed Arbor Day in grand
style Saturday, with
ceremonies centering
around the Hrafna-
loki statue. See page
A good cause
For the past month,
base residents raised
more than $88,000 for
the Navy-Marine
Corps Relief Society.
See page 5.
Graduates
It was a weekend of
sheepskins, as both
high school and col-
leges have their com-
mencement cere-
monies. See page 8.