Americans share joy of Independence Day with Saudis

(MENAFN- Arab News) The American Consulate in Jeddah celebrated America's 239th Independence Day on Wednesday in the presence of Joseph W. Westphal America's ambassador to the Kingdom and US Consul General Todd Holmstrom.

Westphal and his wife Linda Westphal along with Holmstrom and wife Alexandra Holmstrom welcomed more than 300 guests from the business media arts and education sectors at a reception.

The ceremony began with the Saudi national anthem sung by Rana Attar a student of American International school Jeddah (AISJ) followed by the American national anthem which was sung by the chorus singing group of AISJ along with a Color Guard Ceremony conducted by the US Marine security guard detachment.

The guest of honor of the ceremony was Ambassador Jamal Balkhiour director of protocol at the Makkah branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Westphal said in his welcome address that they chose to celebrate the US National Day in February because it marks the 70th anniversary of the historic meeting between President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz.

'This meeting took place on board the US Navy Cruiser 'Quincy' from which the ambassador's residence in Riyadh was named. Perhaps no one expected that the meeting between King Abdul Aziz and President Roosevelt would have such important ramifications for regional security and economic partnership. Since that meeting in 1945 our two nations have been steadfast friends and partners despite cultural historic and religious differences' he said.

He further said these differences however are heavily outweighed by shared interest in the continuous growth and development of two nations and their relationship as people.

'Tonight we celebrate our friendship with our host nation and showcase America's cultural diversity through food. For 239 years we have developed as one nation through the continuous influx of people of different cultures races ethnic origins and religions' he said.

He said the United States has grown and people have migrated throughout the vastness of its land who have continually celebrated the diversity.

'We are a single people and nation evolving out of many cultures ancestries and languages. It is predicted that by 2045 the United States will be a truly plural nation with no ethnic group making up the majority of our citizens. You can see that diversity of people represented by the men and women who make up the US mission in Saudi Arabia' he added.

He thanked the sponsors of the event whose generosity had allowed the group to celebrate this great day by providing products services and employment here in Saudi Arabia.

He also thanked the staff of the Jeddah Consulate staff and the American community for their hard work as well as members of the US Army's First Infantry Division Band who came all the way from Kuwait and Fort Riley in Kansas to entertain the guests for the night.

'May America's New Year be filled with peace and wellbeing and may that be shared with our friends in Saudi Arabia' he concluded.

The guest of the ceremony enjoyed experience of that diversity by sampling some of the food from different parts of the United States from burgers to fajitas to pizza.