Speeches & Editorials
Night of the Stars
Remarks of Ambassador Roland E. Arnall
February 12, 2007
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends of the United States and the Netherlands, since our arrival nearly a year ago, my wife, Dawn, and I have looked forward to our first Night of the Stars. We are honored and pleased to be here with you tonight.
The world knows of the long friendship between the Netherlands and the United States, which stretches back to the founding of New Amsterdam. Tonight we celebrate our commitment to ensure that these bonds of friendship grow deeper and stronger with every generation. Tonight we reaffirm our commitment to help the brightest young minds from both our countries reach their full potential through the finest education possible.
We help the next generation take its place in a distinguished line of educators, scientists, engineers, artists and political leaders whose achievements rest on the education they received in the Netherlands and the United States, and the life-long friendships they formed. We enrich the cultural bonds between our two countries.
No organization does more to promote these goals than the Holland America Friendship Foundation. Tonight marks the fourth time that friends of the Foundation have gathered to generously offer their support.
As a result of tonight’s event and your generosity, the Foundation will be able to offer vital assistance to the Fulbright Program, the John Adams Institute, and other causes that bring our countries closer together.
Looking about this beautiful room tonight, it is stirring and impressive to see what broad support there is for the Foundation’s work.
I am particularly pleased that Her Royal Highness Princess Christina is able to be with us this evening.
Many individuals have worked hard to make this evening so special, and I would like to recognize several in particular. To Karin Doeksen, Liesbeth Hessels, and Karen Verstraete, who comprise the organizing committee for tonight’s celebration, thank you. I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce the other members of the board of the Holland America Friendship Foundation: Buford Alexander, Chairman of the foundation; Chris Devries and Reinier Russell.
Ladies and gentlemen, these six people are the real stars of the evening. They have given a tremendous amount of their time and effort without the expectation of recognition or thanks so that this evening might be a magical one. Please join me in thanking them.
I would also like to thank our friends from the Government of the Netherlands for joining us tonight. Your presence here is a tribute to the ties between our two nations and our shared commitment to furthering education and understanding.
Thank you also to corporate sponsors of tonight’s celebration. Your generosity will fund scholarships and fellowships that represent the most important investment we could make in a solid transatlantic future. Thank you.
I would also like to thank the former Ambassador Cliff Sobel and his wife Barbara for their vision in founding the Night of the Stars. We send our best wishes to them in Brazil tonight – and our appreciation.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife Dawn, the brightest star in my firmament. As a business executive, a philanthropist and as my partner here in The Netherlands, she has dedicated herself to broadening opportunities for others so that they can pursue their dreams.
The wonderful experiences Dawn and I have had over the last year have made living in the Netherlands one of our lives’ great joys. From our first days here, we have been welcomed with an openness and warmth. We have come to appreciate your fondness for spirited debate as well as your sense of humor; your tolerance as well as your deep respect for core values; your dynamic cities as well as your quiet countryside; your dedication and hard work, as well as your appreciation for vacations and family time. Most of all we have come to appreciate your friendship and the special relationship between our countries that is being expressed so elegantly tonight.
Finally, I would like to offer early congratulations to the new Dutch government. We look forward to working with them in the same style that has served us so well over the years: To find common ground, but also to deal candidly with those issues where we disagree.
We look forward to continuing to foster the relationships between the people of our two nations that enlighten the present and will illuminate our future.
May I ask you to join Dawn and me in raising your glasses to the abiding friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Thank you. We wish you all an enjoyable evening.