Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.09.2017, Qupperneq 3

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. september 2017 • 3
Sunny skies and warm weather welcomed
the104 golfers who descended on Gimli’s
Links at the Lake Golf Course for the
annual Icelandic Open Golf Tournament
on Friday, August 4. Partway through the
afternoon, there was a brief cloudburst but
nothing could dampen participants’ spirits and
the golfing resumed after a short rest, although
a few hardy souls kept golfing through the
raindrops.
Cliff Sveinson made history by scoring a
hole-in-one on the seventh hole, winning the
$5,000 prize sponsored by Bruce Eyford. This
is the first time that a golfer has claimed the
coveted hole-in-one prize since the tournament
began in 2001.
At the tournament dinner held in Johnson
Hall at the Waterfront Centre, L-H editor Stefan
Jonasson made his debut as an auctioneer for
the evening’s live auction, which featured four
items, including a soccer shirt autographed by
the Icelandic men’s football team. Never having
conducted an auction before, Stefan watched a
short YouTube video about how to do it and
could be seen rehearsing in the cloakroom. He
then conducted the auction until all four items
were sold and no pride remained.
The tournament exceeded its fundraising
target by more than 1,000 dollars, netting
at least 15,000 dollars to support Lögberg-
Heimskringla's activities. L-H is grateful to
Shawn Bjornsson and his team of volunteers for
all their efforts to make this year’s tournament
an enjoyable day and great success.
17th Icelandic Open a fun affair
PHOTO: STEFAN JONASSON
Shawn Bjornsson and Kris Thorkelson, the highest bidder
for the Icelandic men’s soccer jersey
Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson,
Iceland’s Minister for
Foreign Affairs and
External Trade, offered a warm
and sometimes whimsical
address at the Deuce of August
celebration in Mountain, North
Dakota, on Saturday, August 5.
The foreign minister was
introduced by Curtis Olafson,
President of the Icelandic
Communities Association
and former state legislator,
who marvelled at how many
parliamentary committees
Guðlaugur had served on
during his political career.
In his opening words, the
foreign minister expressed
his gratitude for the friendly
welcome he and his traveling
companions had received
in North Dakota and took a
moment to laud Curtis.
He then proceeded to
the substance of his address,
while sometimes digressing
to the delight of the audience.
“It is such an honor for me to
address this annual Deuce of
August,” he said, “the oldest
ethnic festival in North Dakota
and, I am told, the largest
Icelandic event in the United
States, now in its 118th year.
That’s impressive.”
Guðlaugur ruminated briefly
on the drive from Winnipeg
to Mountain. “Driving on the
flat prairie of Manitoba for
hours, as we did yesterday, an
Icelander appreciates arriving
at Mountain and learning why
the first Icelandic settlers in
1878 came up with this name.
The slight rise – slight rise – in
the landscape looks definitely
like a mountain.” The audience
erupted in laughter, the volume
of which might have competed
with the volcanic eruption that
brought their ancestors to the
edge of the Red River Valley.
He described the tour he
enjoyed that morning with
Loretta Bernhoft, Iceland’s
honorary consul in Mountain,
who took his party to see the
most interesting Icelandic
historical sites and landmarks
“in this remarkable Icelandic
settlement in North Dakota.”
He mentioned the historic
Vikur Lutheran Church, the
homestead of poet Stephan G.
Stephasson, and the gravesite
of the poet Káinn (K.N. Júlíus),
where they tossed back some
brennivín in his memory – “an
excellent Icelandic tradition.”
He encouraged those who
hadn’t tried it to do it as soon
as possible, while admitting,
“brennivín doesn’t really taste
that good, but it couldn’t be
better.”
“I have had the good
fortune of getting to know
quite a few people of Icelandic
origin here in America,” he
said. “What has struck me the
most is the feeling of meeting
old friends and relatives, each
and every time. Actually, each
and every time we get more
relatives.” As an aside, he
noted that just that morning
his wife, Ágústa, learned she
was related to the honorary
consul’s family, musing that
he needed to find some cousins
of his own.
Guðlaugur then focused
of the commonalities between
Iceland and America. “We
share the same values and
visions, the same bright
humor, and even the same
wishes about ourselves,
whether conservative or
liberal, militant or pacifist,
non-drinkers or heavy drinkers
– not mentioning any names,
religious or spiritual. Despite
all the troubles and the
infighting [of earlier times],
Icelanders here and back home
have one thing in common
and that’s unity in the days of
external threat. As we say in
Iceland, united we stand.”
“In this sense,” he
continued, “Iceland is not
a place or a territory, it is
living in us. It is who we are.
The Icelandic settlement and
now the Icelandic community
is a monument to the great
friendship of Iceland and the
United States. We will always
remember that the United
States of America was the first
government to recognize the
Icelandic republic on June 17th,
1944. Ever since then, a strong
friendship of cooperation
has existed between the two
countries. We are partners and
allies and sometimes, indeed,
we are more than that.”
“Icelanders back home
appreciate what you, the
descendants of the first
Icelandic settlers in North
Dakota, have done to
contribute to our well-being
and the relationship between
the two nations through all
these years. We are grateful
for this proud achievement –
what we have achieved in the
world. I would like to applaud
the Icelandic Communities
Association of North Dakota
and all the individuals who
so tirelessly spend time
and energy organizing this
very impressive event. It is
wonderful to see so many
of you here today engaged
in these festivities, which
shows your passion for the
preservation and enjoyment
of our common heritage and
culture.”
The foreign minister closed
his remarks by promising
that Iceland is committed
to maintaining a strong and
robust relationship between
the old country and the
Icelandic communities here.
“I bring you greetings from
the government and people of
Iceland and our commitment
to preserve the bond between
the people of Iceland and the
people of Icelandic ancestry in
North America.”
“We share the same values and
visions,” says Iceland’s foreign minister
PHOTO: SHIRLEY OLGEIRSON
Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson at the Deuce of August
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