Lögberg-Heimskringla - 02.10.1992, Side 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 2. október 1992 • 5
and finding them buried
Forms were put in place for the concrete
and wire fencing was placed outside to keep the cattle out.
All the work was completed by August 29, 1992.
offered to skim the surface using his
machinery. Work was brought to an
abrupt halt when his equipment
failed. Only a jagged piece of con-
crete was found. This was disappoint-
ing as Thorarinn and Gróa’s graves
were the first sought.
In September 1991 the area was
levelled, filled with top soil and a
nine by nine foot chain-link fenced
Festival news
from Chicago
SOUTH ELGIN, Illinois —
Governor Jim Edgar sent greetings,
via Pat Swanson Michalski, his
Assistant for Ethnic Affairs, to the
Scandinavian American community,
on the occasion of the 13th Annual
Scandinavian Day Festival, held
recentíy at Vasa Park.
Governor Edgar praised the
Icelandic, Danish, Finnish, Nor-
wegian and Swedish communities for
their unity and co-operation in orga-
nizing a Fest which drew an atten-
dance of over 8000.
From left to right: Michalski; Gale
Johansen, Viking Ship Restoration
Committee; and Norma Altem Smith,
Sons of Norway, who were lending
their support to the restoration of the
100-year-old Viking ship in Lincoln
Park in Chicago.
concrete base was in place. This
would ensure a more lasting arrange-
ment for future generations to over-
see.
On the final day of work, Runa
Eastman Sveen, sister of Andrew,
came by to view our efforts. Pleased
with the result, she spoke of her
childhood recollection of the ceme-
tery, remembereing four footstones of
the babies, south of that, their father
and next to his a larger slanted white
stone marker which we presume was
for Thorarinn and Gróa. Whether it
had been removed, trampled, disinte-
grated or perhaps became buried in
the shifting sandy soil we may never
know. What mattered was that each
had been drawn to a common cause
and found family.
The rose granite headstone was
returned June 20, 1992 to where
Herdís first placed it. As well, on
August 29, 1992, a bronze plaque for
Thorarinn and Gróa was affixed to
the headstone, completing the pro-
ject. A service of remembrance is
planned for the spring of 1993. The
honour of being a part of this worth-
while endeavour which began as a
simple search has been shared by
cousins on both sides of our common
border, established friendships and
developed a stronger interest in our
Icelandic heritage. Had it not been
for that old pencilled list of names
perhaps none of this would have
come to pass. It was indeed an invita-
tion to a gathering of family, friends
and very special people. We are so
grateful to the unknown author of
that list.
Those involved in the Thorarinson
cemetery project: The families of
Rosa Dalsted Johnson, Dorothy
Dalsted Crowston, Sigurdur Dalsted,
Barney and Loa Dalsted, John and
Lorraine Dalsted, Merlyn and Kaye
Dalsted, Cavalier, N.D., Gordon and
Lois Rose, Harvey and Dorothy
Shipley, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Compiled by: Dorothy Rose Shipley,
daughter of Johanna Ingibjorg Thor-
arinson and Arthur Rose, granddaughter
of Sigurdur Thorarinson and Katrín
Brandsdóttir, and great granddaughter of
Thorarinn Amason and Gróa Jánsdóttir.
Hekla Club keeps a busy schedule
T he Reverend Ingthor Isfeld, pastor of the First
Lutheran church of Winnipeg, discussed the life
and works of Hallgrímur Pétursson at the annual
Samkoma (get-together) of the Hekla Club in
Minneapolis earlier this summer. The Hekla Club is an
organization of women of Icelandic background who, in
addition to monthly meetings, stage a Samkoma each year
which is attended by people with Icelandic connections
and interests. This year’s Samkoma was attended by about
200 people who enjoyed a fascinating program following a
dinner.
Mrs. Kathy Flood, president of the Hekla Club,
presided over the program which included, in addition to
Rev. Isfeld’s discourse, a letter from a Minnesota student
in Iceland, and a violin duet by two Icelanders studying at
the University of Minnesota. The violinists, both from
Reykjavík, were Sif Hrafnsdóttir Tuliníus and Sigurbjöm
Bemharðsson.
Hallgrímur Pétursson is one of the best-known and
most admired poets Iceland has produced; there is hardly
an Icelander in the world who is not familiar with his
Passion Hymns ((Passiusalmar), Rev Isfeld said.
Hallgrímur Pétursson is also the author of several well-
known hymns tbat are widely sung today.
Hallgrímur Pétursson’s life was not an easy one, Rev.
Isfeld pointed out. He suffered many reverses, but his
unshakable faith and poetic genius won him a place in the
hearts of all Icelanders, most of whom can recite from
memoiy some of his immortal verses.
The Rev. lsfeld was accompanied by his wife on their
short visit to Minneapolis where they were able to renew
acquaintances with old friends.
The Hekia Club also entertained the choir of young
students from Iceland. They arrived here in July, a group
of about 20 singers and conductor. At a concert in a St.
Paul church, thcy proved to be very fine singers indeed.
The congregation and many of the Icelandic people in the
Twin Cities area were there.
The Hekla Club provided refreshments, and a good-
will offering was taken; the choir was delightcd to find
that they had a fund to help them enjoy their time in the
Twin Cities.
For the past few years we have also entertained
Icelandíc farmers and their wives. They have always been
greatly interested in the advances made here over the
years.
This year there were approximately 40 persons who
came. They arrived at the time of the Minneapolis Aqua-
tennial, an event which goes on for a week and features
many interesting events. They saw the Torchlight Parade,
and were thrilled with it. One man said they had hung out
the hotel windows as they had never seen anything like it.
On the Saturday of their visit they were entertained at
the home of Dr. Öm Arnar and Mrs. Amar. Many of the
Icelandic students at the university here came with their
husbands, wives, and children. Dr. Amar took the gucsts
out in his boat on Lake Minnetonka, a large lake west of
Minneapolis. Two of our enterprising members arranged
to have a canopy in case of rain, but fortunately we didn’t
have to usc it. The guests were busy looking at the trccs
and the beautiful flowers. The guests sang several
Icelandic songs before they left, and though some of us
are not as fluent in the Icelandic language as we would
wish, we somehow managed to understand each other.
Submitted by Vera Johannsson Youngcr