Speeches & Editorials
Dutch American Friendship Day
Remarks by Ambassador Roland E. Arnall at the Netherland-America Foundation Dinner
April 20, 2007
It is a privilege to be America’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, and it is an honor to share in this evening’s celebration with so distinguished a group of individuals.
I would like to take a moment to congratulate this year’s Netherland-America Foundation’s honorees, P. Jan Kalff, Joroen van der Veer, and Jan Zachariasse; and, to thank tonight’s honorary Chairman, His Excellency Ambassador Kroner, our Dutch Ambassador to the United States, as well as Bill Tucker NAF’s Chairman for inviting me to speak to you this evening.
When John Adams signed the Treaty of Amity and Trust on April 19th, 1782, he set in motion the enduring and steadfast friendship that our two countries entrusted to each other some 225 years ago. That treaty was a prelude to the progressive, perpetual, economic, social, and cultural bonds which the United States and the Netherlands enjoy today, and will tomorrow.
The tenets of freedom which underlie our Dutch-American friendship have enabled us to realize the dreams of our forefathers. The alliance and camaraderie - together with the achievements - of our past history have guided us into the history that is developing and effectuating our lives today. The United States and the Netherlands have stood – and continue to stand - side by side through exciting times, and through devastating times of war and sacrifice.
Today, we share in times of diverse innovation, discovery, and advancement, and yet again unfortunately in war and sacrifice.
Everything that has happened in our shared history reinforces the unity and determination that helped define the precepts upon which our friendship and alliance is built and thrives. We enjoy joint - mutually rewarding - ventures in the arts, entertainment, science, business and yes, politics. And most importantly, we are embedded in our commitment to end tyranny, fight terrorism, and protect the survival of freedom and democracy.
Tonight is especially exciting for me as the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. Thanks to the wholehearted perseverance of Peter Hoekstra and Chris Van Hollen, two members of the United States House of Representatives – both of whom trace their roots back to the Netherlands - I stand with you all this evening in tribute to Dutch-American Friendship and its corresponding resolution establishing Dutch-American Friendship Day which they spearheaded into being passed by Congress.
I believe the following sentiment so appropriately expressed by Andrew Schneider is shared by all of us, and would have been by John Adams too had he been able to join us.
“We hold in our hands the most precious gift of all, freedom. The freedom to express our art. Our love. The freedom to be who we want to be. We are not going to give that freedom away and no one shall take it from us.”
Thank you.