Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.03.2007, Side 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.03.2007, Side 5
Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca Ringler’s website about Hall- grímsson (www.library.wisc. edu/etext/Jonas/Jonas.html), which enhances the reading of the book. Those who do not wish to buy the book and can- not locate it in a library will find the website a rich resource on its own. I recommend this devoted work of scholarship to anyone who is interested in discovering more about this important Ice- landic Romantic poet. Anna Jean Mallinson West Vancouver, BC * * * Dear Editor, I enjoy reading the Lög- berg-Heimskringla very much and especially enjoy the writ- ings in “The Guest’s Corner.” The stories often bring back memories of earlier years. One story that comes to mind is as follows: Years ago, horses were a familiar sight in Gimli as they were used to help with many duties and chores. Basements were made by horses and scrap- ers. Road repairs and upkeep was done with the aid of horses. Where the Gimli Theatre stands today, there stood a horse barn. Gunnar Johnson, the town fore- man, kept horses there. One night late in the eve- ning, my uncle, John Howard- son, was walking home. As he was passing by the barn he saw that a fire was burning in- side the barn and would soon turn into an inferno. He quickly ran inside the barn and untied all the horses and was able to lead them all to safety outside. Quick thinking on his part saved the animals from perish- ing in the flames. Respectfully yours, Clifford Stevens Gimli, MB * * * Dear Editor: Thanks for the January 5 article “Bringing more Ice- landers west.” I wish success to Vesturheimur and extend a welcome to all who will come our way. It is through such visits that the bond between Iceland and emigrants and/or their descendants on this side of the ocean is ensured. From my home in Saskatchewan, I have always been aware of the strong ties to Iceland. My thoughts go to those who emigrated in early settle- ment years — saying goodbye to the country of their birth, their relatives and friends and everything they had known, without a dream of ever return- ing. Their children could at least dream but lack of finances and in some cases ill-health exerted their forces. Only in memory could they travel back. I grew up hearing from my father (Peter Thorsteinson) that one day when times would be better, he would go back to Ice- land for a visit. He never did; he died in 1957. In 1988 my daughter Lonna and I “went back for a visit” — yes, I had heard that expression so often, it was a part of me and I used it as I planned my first visit. It was a wonderful trip to a beautiful land; the hospitality was heartwarming. During our visit my fa- ther was never far from my thoughts, as he was when I read in the referred-to article that “... few stood on the docks, wish- ing them well just before they sailed.” My father left this written account of the family’s depar- ture from their homeland: In June 1893 Father (Stein- grimur Thorsteinson) sold out and decided to sail to America with Mother (Petrina Gud- mundsdottir) and us three boys (John, Thorstein, Peter) so we all rode our horses for the last time to the port of Husavik, a distance of about 35 miles. I rode on Father’s saddle horse. We... sailed with a coal-freighter around the northernmost point of Iceland... into a port called Seydisfjord. There the Allan Liner Lake Huron was waiting to take us to America...” He never wrote about peo- ple standing on the dock wish- ing them well. Their goodbyes had been said and the tears were shed back in their home district when they had left their farm in the Reykjadal Valley. I grew up in the Icelandic settlement south of the Quill Lakes in Saskatchewan, never hearing a word spoken about negative feelings held towards the emigrants by people back home in Iceland. But of course, those who remained felt great loss and would have coped with it in various ways. Some, I read (in the aforementioned article) expressed their feelings with anger. That was a long time ago. When I hear it come to the forefront today, I hope that that negative will not live on as the norm. The ties between the emi- grants and the island homeland were kept alive through such ways as the reading of books and newspapers, the writing of letters, the exchange of photos — also through church con- nections. The 2nd of August brought people together in song and celebration. But it was in 1961 when His Excellency Ás- geir Ásgeirsson and Her Lady- ship Dora Þórhallsdóttir vis- ited the West that within hearts, the bond of togetherness was sealed. They came at a time when a few of the older genera- tion could exchange old memo- ries from Iceland, when many of the descendants of the emi- grants could also converse in Icelandic, when many children, of many ethnic backgrounds, with enthusiasm waved their home-made miniature flags of Iceland and sang. It seemed like love held everyone together on that beautiful September day. That was nearly 50 years ago. In the days that followed the visit, many would recall that President Ásgeirsson, in speak- ing to a crowd of 2,000, had said, “... people in the homeland feel their Canadian relations are not foreigners when they come back home and yet know these people are good Canadian citi- zens in every way.” (Saskatoon StarPhoenix.) With economic times im- proving, many more people were able to afford a trip “back home” to Iceland. “Blest be the ties that bind” the hearts of those of Icelandic heritage in the West with the hearts of those in Iceland. Just wanted to share my views by taking a trip back in time. Thanks for coming aling. Sincerely, Lillian Thorsteinson Thorlacius Wynyard, SK Thanks, Lillian, for sharing your thoughts. I wonder if other readers have similar experi- ences to relate, perhaps some of our American readership? The subject of one’s heritage and one’s citizenship can be deeply personal for those who have grown up in one country but whose roots are in another. — Ed. Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. mars 2007 • 5 Continued from page 4 ������������������ ����������� �������������������� ����������������������������� ����������������� ��������� ������� �������� ����������������� �������������� ���������������� ��������������������������������� ��� ������� �������� �� ������������������������ ����� ������������� ������������������������� �������� ��������������������������������������������� ������������������� ��������������������������� �������������� ��������������� ����������������������������� ���������� ���������������������������������������� ����� ������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ���������� ������ ���� �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ���� ���������� �������������������������������� ����� ������������������� ����������������������������� ������� �������������������� ������������������������ ��������� ��������� ����������������������� �������� �������������������������������������� ���� �����������������������������������������������

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