On Thursday 30 June 2016, the US Embassy hosted an Independence Day reception for around 300 guests including Luxembourg government ministers Pierre Gramegna, Etienne Schneider and Félix Braz, as we as the Ambassadors of various countries including the UK and Ireland, plus business leaders and representatives of Luxembourg society.

The formal part of the evening commenced with the Luxembourg and American anthems being played and sung, followed by the US Marines performing a colour guard.

US Ambassador to Luxembourg, David McKean, started his address by stating "Two hundred and forty years ago, our founders came together to create a new nation based on a revolutionary idea - the belief that we are all created equal and that we are free to govern ourselves... we are once again reminded that our Declaration of Independence made us a beacon to the world."

He added "success has given us great responsibility - one that has changed, evolved, and unfolded over the years. It is only in the last few decades, for instance, that science has afforded us the opportunity to understand that the preservation of the planet is an urgent part of that responsibility." He referred to the COP21 in Paris, the new national park inaugurated in Luxembourg, and President Obama's recent announcement of three more national parks in the United States.

The US national park system was established in 1916 by President Woodrow but "it is President Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson’s predecessor, who is considered by most to have been the father of the conservation movement in the United States... President Roosevelt created five national parks, signed legislation to unilaterally create 18 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon, and set aside more than 100 million acres of national forests".

He referred to the places of great natural beauty and natural habitat "for all kinds of animals and wildlife ranging from the emerald dragonfly to the bald eagle, from the Gila Monster to the Grizzly Bear".

The reception that followed included traditonal American food including hamburgers, lobster rolls from New England, tacos from the southwest, pulled pork sandwiches from the southeast and wine from California. during the reception, the music was provided by the United States Air Force in Europe, who played a medley of traditional patriotic US tunes.

Photos by Geoff Thompson - for full photo album (on Facebook), see https://www.facebook.com/238112732966706/photos/?tab=album&album_id=903897809721525