Tartan Day 2008!
Tartan Day 2008 was a HUGE SUCCESS!
Are you in this picture? If so, you were one of the hundreds of folks who celebrated with us on the occasion of the 10th Annual Capitol Celebration. Among you were many PLANK OWNERS – those of you who were with us at that first celebration way back in 1999.
Once again we are grateful to the Minnesota Police Pipe Band who has been with this celebration since the beginning. Not far behind was Mike Breidenbach and the Macalester College Pipe Band. Our sincere thanks to all the pipers and drummers for adding the sounds of Scotland to our celebration.
Don’t you love those MacKinnon sisters who thrilled us once again with the singing of Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, Flower of Scotland? David Lohman, who last sang for us in 2003, led us in the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. What a great voice and how lucky we are that he shares his gift with us.
What fun to watch the young ladies – and one gentleman, Andrew, who we have been watching do Highland Dancing since he was a wee bairn – offer Scotland’s best known, the Highland Fling. Thanks to the Minnesota Scottish and Celtic Dance Association for their continued, uninterrupted participation in Tartan Day.
We were honored to have 5Eyewitness News Anchor Leah McLean with us for her first Scottish Community event (and we hope not her last). Leah was introduced by Colleen McLaine, Regional commissioner for Clan MacLean. Leah read the Governor’s proclamation and the long awaited proclamation that had been signed by George W. Bush on April 4 making Tartan Day official in our nation.
Neil Johnson was a splendid master of ceremonies. Besides keeping the program moving, he introduced Dr. John McConnell, Commissioner Emeritus for Clan Donald who presented the 6th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Elizabeth Rose Michaelson. That’s Liz, you guys! Well deserving of the award for her more than 20 years of volunteer leadership in the Scottish Community, Liz was a popular choice and looking beautiful in her special “frock” created by her daughter Peggy Luchine for the occasion. Her acceptance speech left many of us, and herself, teary-eyed.
Barbara MacKinnon’s Invocation and Benediction opened and closed the celebration, with the good lads of Clann Tartan, another group who has been with us from the beginning, firing a musket salute as they have done these many years, weather permitting.
The Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans was in charge of the program and arrangements on the capitol steps. Thanks go to Tom Lucas and Jack MacMillan. And especially to Art Nicol, one of the founders of MCSC and the provider of the sound system. Keep reading the SNIM for special news about Art Nicol in the coming months.
And then it was off to Kieran’s pub in downtown Minneapolis where haggis, tatties, and neeps were on the menu. The Titanic Lounge was packed with Scots looking for a good time and they were not disappointed. The Twin Cities Scottish Club and the St. Andrew’s Society combined to create an exceptional evening. The Tumbola Stall was tons of fun sending folks home with grand prizes for a small investment. The band Rising Gael played on – encouraging dancing by the likes of Jerimiah Brummel and John Peterson, Sherry, Dan, Andrew, and Chandi. (Look for the photos coming soon.) Thanks to Jennifer Peterson, Lindsay Le, Norma Macdonald, Neil Johnson, and Tom King for making that all happen.
Oh yes, the photo at the top of the page. A copy can be yours for the low, low price of just $10, which includes the 11 x 17 photo, shipping and handling. Mail your check or money order, made payable to Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative, c/o B. F. Humphrey, 6324 Wentworth Av S, Minneapolis MN 55423-1541. Please allow 4 – 6 weeks for delivery as Scott Moncreiff, who took the photo and many more you will see here soon, is in – where else???? SCOTLAND!
And, thanks to all of you, Tartan Day ended up in the black for the 2nd year in a row.
get your button now!