The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Side 37

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
35
CHARTER FLIGHT TO ICELAND 1971
by Mattie Halldorson
At the annual convention of the
bjoSraeknisfelag (Icelandic National
League), in February 1970, Consul-
General Grettir L. Johannsson, Mr.
Jakob Kristjanson and Mrs. Kristin
Johnson, were elected to plan a charter
flight to Iceland in 1971. At once re-
quests for passage began to pour in.
June 2nd was the departure date
The Air Canada DC8 plane carried
a full compliment of 150 passengers,
flying direct to Keflavik in Iceland,
over the Northern route. Everyone
was in a jovial mood; enjoyed the
smooth flight, the excellent meals
and refreshments.
On Friday June 4th the group was
invited to take a tour of the city of
Reykjavik, showing all the important
points of interest. The President, Dr.
Kristjan Eldjarn, and hi.s charming
wife, fro Halldora Ingolfsdottir, in-
vited everyone to Bessastadir, the of-
ficial residence of the President of Ice-
land. The group met in the church,
where the President welcomed every-
one to Iceland and wished one and all
an enjoyable stay. Afterwards a fellow-
ship at Bessastadir was most pleasant.
At this reception Mr. Skuli Johanns
son, president of the Icelandic Nation-
al League, presented microfilm copies
of newspapers and periodicals printed
in Icelandic in Manitoba to Dr. Eld-
jarn. ITe brought greetings from the
people of Icelandic descent in America
and expressed appreciation of the
contrbiution made by the people of
Iceland to our Icelandic culture. The
following were among the copies on
the microfilm:
Framfari, New Iceland, Sept. 10, 1877
to January 30, 1880.
Leifur Winnipeg, May 5, 1883 to June
4, 1886.
Heimskringla, Winnipeg, Sept. 9, 1886
to July 29 1959.
Logberg, Winnipeg, January 14, 1888
to July 30, 1959.'
Mr. Jakob Kristjansson presented
Dr. Eldjarn with “The Manitoba Hi-
storical Atlas” by Prof. J. Warken-
tin and Dr. R. Ruggles, from Premier
E. Schreyer, on behalf of the Govern-
ment of Manitoba.
On Sunday, June 6th, The Nation-
al League of Reykjavik, sponsored a
reception in honor of the charter
group. Frii Aslaug Sveinsdottir, widow
of Dr. Sigurdur bordarson, made a
presentation to Mr. Skuli Johannsson.
for The Icelandic National League,
of a photostatic copy of the first ed-
ition of “Guftbrandar Biblia”. Bishop
GuSbrandur borlaksson at H61um,
was responsbile for the production
and translation of part of the Bible.
It was printed in 1584. The inscrip-
tion in the Bible is: This book is given
The Icelandic National League in
memory of Sigurdur bordarson, dhoir
leader and composer, with sincere
thanks for the warmth and respect ac-
corded him during his visits with the
Male Voice Choir of Reykjavik to
Icelandic settlements in North Amer-
ica, in the years 1946 and 1960. With
kindest appreciation (signed) Aslaug
Sveinsdottir.
Snaebjorn Kaldalons, son of the fam-
ous composer, Dr. Sigvaldi Kaldalons,
presented to Skuli Johannsson, a col-