Færder Lodge 3-109
In the 4th quarter issue of the TDT, lodge member Aksel Andresen, was featured in this same section of the TDT along with a brief explanation of the pictures. Here, in more detail, is more about Aksel and his experiences.
Aksel Andresen and Sylvia Kristiansen received an invitation from Prime Minister Solberg to attend the August 19th Liberation Day Ceremony and Luncheon at the Oslo Opera House. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place last year on the 75th anniversary of Norway’s Liberation, May 8th. However, the ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19. King Harald, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Astrid, and other dignitaries greeted and honored Aksel and thirteen other WWII Norwegian Krigsseilerne Veterans (Norwegian War Sailors).
At the September 2021, Sons of Norway Faerder Lodge meeting, Aksel shared photos of the ceremony. Aksel and the other veterans were honored for their services during WWI as Merchant Marines. We must remember that Norway went to war in 1940, two years before America got involved, and they were the ones who constantly had to traverse the Atlantic Ocean, trying to avoid the German U-boats and mines. The Norwegian War Sailors (Krigsseilerne) suffered the most casualties per capita of any armed forces in WWII, and more than half of the Norwegian fleet was lost. The horrors of war did not exclude the Merchant Marine. Merchant Mariners suffered some of the most gruesome deaths of the war. Following U-boat attacks, they were scalded to death in boiler explosions; drowned in icy waters; choked to death ingesting oily seawater.
Aksel was born in Kristiansand, Norway on October 10, 1922 . In 1938, age 16, he wanted to see America and came to New York to work as a merchant marine on Norwegian ships. When Germany invaded Norway on April 9-1940, Aksel and the Norwegian ships that were in allied waters at the time were requisitioned by the Royal Norwegian Government.
After the end of WWII, Aksel returned to New York and settled in Brooklyn in the area then known as the Norwegian Colony. Aksel married in 1947 at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, Brooklyn. Aksel had two daughters and his surviving daughter lives in Florida. He and his long-time partner, Sylvia Kristiansen, live in Brooklyn where both are active Faerder Lodge members. The lodge recently celebrated Aksel’s 50th Sons of Norway Anniversary.
Victoria Hofmo, President of the Scandinavian East Coast Museum, arranges for the annual Norwegian War Sailors ceremony in Battery Park, NYC, at the Stone Monument. This monument was given by the Norwegian War Sailors and Navy to honor, not to themselves or their fallen colleagues, but to the people of the United States of America, in memory of help and hospitality shown during our mutual struggle for freedom and peace in WWII. Aksel is the last surviving Krigsseilerne veteran living in New York.
Loyal Lodge 3-252
In August 2021, the 98-meter-long tall ship S/S Statsraad Lehmkuhl set sail from Arendal, Norway for its 20-month long The One Ocean Expedition circumnavigation of the globe.
On The One Ocean Expedition, Statsraad Lehmkuhl is serving as a floating university and training vessel combined, bringing students, scientists, trainees and professionals together on different voyage legs to collect high-quality data continuously measuring for instance ? levels of CO₂, micro-plastic, ocean acidification and ocean temperature.
On December 18th, Loyal Lodge President Eric Johansson and his daughter Kiersten were part of a small contingency of invited guests of Norwegian Ambassador Anniken Krutnes to greet the
Stratsraad Lehmkuhl on its arrival to New York. Early on the 18th, the guests departed Chelsea Pier, Manhattan and were ferried by the Motor Yacht Manhattan to the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, anchored off Liberty Island in New York Harbor. During the Motor Yacht ride the guests were welcomed by the Ambassador, Consul General, and Foundation Director. Statsraad Lehmkuhl foundation representative provided history of the ship and its current mission of The One Ocean Expedition and then Mr. Tonny Algrøy from Kongsberg Maritime provided a broad overview of its company’s scientific equipment being used aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl. One of the most remarkable aspects of this expedition is the scientific collaboration of scientists uniting in a single effort to improve our earth’s environment – and even more so inspiring aboard a century’s-old tall ship! All are invited to track the S.S. Statsraad Lehmkuhl voyage at https://oneoceanexpedition.com/ Below are some interesting facts of this tall ship:
- 1914 – this three-masted Barque was built in Bremerhaven, Germany and named Grossherzog Friedrich August
- Length – 98 metres
- Beam – 12.6 metres
- Draught – 5.2 metres
- Mast Height – 48 metres
- Top Speed: Engine 11 knots, Sail 18.5 knots
- 1918 – Seized as War reparation by the British Empire
- 1921 – Bought by former Norwegian cabinet minister Kristofer Lehmkuhl and named S.S. Statsraad Lehmkuhl ( “Cabinet Minister Lehmkuhl”)
- 1940 – Captured by Germany and renamed Westwärts
- 1945 – Returned to Norway as the S.S. Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Norsk Carolina Lodge 3-679
Lodge members celebrate Jul at the Waldhorn Restaurant
in Pineville, NC
Fredriksten Lodge 3-125
Fredriksten celebrated Christmas this year along with members of their local Danish Community.
Washington Lodge 3-428
normally holds a 2-day Christmas Festival every December, but for the last 2 years we’ve held a series of smaller offerings over 4 days, with reserved timed entry, to maintain a safe environment both inside and outside the Lodge. Luckily, the weather was good for our outdoor Nordic Café, seen above, where we offered freshly made waffles and lefse, pea soup, Norwegian-style hotdogs and reindeer hotdogs, imported Solo, and a variety of pastries. Funds earned from this event support our “Norway House” and our charitable giving which includes the SON Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association through the 3D, Ski for Light, and six local charities.
Nansen Lodge 3-410
Nansen member Kurt Strom celebrated his 100th birthday at a lodge meeting on Dec 3rd. with family and friends.
Nansen members enjoying Paul Kornbrekke’s Glogg with Lillian Kuell president at lodge Christmas party.
Hampton Roads Lodge 3-522
Hampton Roads Lodge was able to finish off 2021 with two bazaars. Although they were slightly different from our past bazaars due to covid, we
were still able to enjoy all of the benefits that they bring. We held our standard Hampton Roads Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar in Virginia Beach and our first Norge Norsemen Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar in Williamsburg (Norge). These bazaars are fantastic events that we show the public and enjoy for ourselves, the camaraderie of our members sharing their Norwegian heritage and culture. When the public sees this, they want to be a part of it. In fact, we were able to join 35 new members this past November from the two bazaars.
Since these two Christmas Bazaars were held in back to back weekends in two different locations, a great deal of planning and coordination was necessary to make them both such a resounding success. Both 
Hampton Roads members and the Norge Norsemen members were totally committed to these bazaars success. 3-522 members Vivian Zingarelli and Elizabeth Kamosa are great examples of this commitment.—ED.
Southern Star Lodge 3-630
Svein Nilsen from Southern Star Lodge receives his 50 year Service Achievement Certificate from Lodge President, Karen McIlrath,
Nordkap Lodge 3-215
Nordkap celebrated their 100 Year Anniversary in grand style.
Blå Fjell Lodge– 3-646
Icelandic Viking Day
Blå Fjell Lodge has been celebrating the Icelandic Viking Day for 10 years at Faith Christian School in Roanoke, Va. This is the lodge’s “Adopt a School” highlight
of the year for 4th graders. Prior to the actual “Viking Day,” the students learned a lot about these explorers. These activities were presented first by the teacher, Angie
Wolpert and Cheri Johnson, who wrote and coordinated the program:
- Read the book Leif the Lucky
- Learn about Leif Eriksson with emphasis on him being a Christian
- Color a picture of Leif
- Make a paper ship with colorful designs
- Learn to write in Runic on a piece of wood, wooden spoon, and paper
- Design and color a 14′ cardboard shield for a shield wall
- Read the book First Born – Snorri Thorfinnsson about Gudrid, mother of Snorri, first baby born in North America
- Create a costume to wear on Viking Day
On the morning of Viking Day, the head of school, Peter Baur, and Cheri Johnson greet the students in full costume. Then Viking Day begins. It is a culminating
activity to a month’s study of Icelandic Vikings. The emphasis has been on Leif Eriksson becoming a Christian and the culture of these Vikings. This is done by under-
standing their ships, travels, way of living, and story telling adventures from Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland.
These activities happen on Viking Day:
- Sons of Norway members arrive
- Pictures are taken of Children in costume, shield wall, and Sons of Norway members
- Everyone proceeds to a large room with exhibits on Norway, Longhouse Living, Ships and Voyages, and Story telling
- SON members go to each table and present information already prepared and share items at the table
- Children rotate to tables in groups of 4 for 20 min. each
- After the sessions, children gather on the floor for a story of Puffins and information about these Icelandic seabirds
Then comes the party! The parents have prepared an authentic meal of Viking food served on woodenware. The children and SON members enjoy this treat. The meal
consists of: Chicken Stew, Kissel, a berry drink, Berries, apples, and Cheese, and Viking Bread. Water is their drink. Then the SON members depart, the parents clean up, and the children go to recess to fight with their swords and shields.
This year was extra special because one of our members, Helen De Vries wanted to come help so the students made her cards for her 90th birthday! It was sweet!
Dirk Hansen, our Zone Director, made the trip from Walterboro, SC to teach the children about Ships, Voyages, and Puffins That was special!
Many thanks to the Blå Fjell members who participated: Sharon Rohrback, Joanne Barfield, Kathy Clark, Helene De Vries, and Marilyn Barrier. This Viking
Day was created and organized by Cheri Johnson, our Children’s Program Coordinator. Cheri made 3 trips to the school, prior to Viking Day, to teach about
Leif Eriksson, Gudrid, and Runic Writing. Team work and Parents, along with administrative support made this all possible. It was an amazing experience for all.
Any questions or concerns can be directed to Cheri Johnson at
And if that wasn’t enough-
Blå Fjell Lodge celebrated their 25th Anniversary
Norden Lodge 3-407
“A very Norden Christmas to all”
In the last issue of the TDT I requested information and pictures that would demonstrate how some of our members give the “Scandinavian Touch” to their homes, yards and gardens. Thank you Marie Hansen and Kathy Dollymore for your submissions.
A Julenek Saga
By Newsletter Editor Marie Hansen 3-428
I have always loved the Norwegian Christmas tradition of hanging a sheaf of unthreshed wheat (Julenek) as a gift of food for the birds. This tradition dates back centuries, when farmers would save some of their best grain as a winter offering for birds — an offering that might also bring the farmers good luck.
Last August I set out to find local, organic wheat to make several juleneks — for myself and for friends. But coming from generations of city dwellers and suburbanites, I was woefully ignorant of what this would entail.
First, I learned that local wheat is not harvested in the fall. In this area it is almost all harvested by July 4 and then sent to the mills to make flour. I was much too late to find a good supply.
But after several calls and emails, I finally found a farmer near Aldie, VA, who would sell me enough stalks “to fill a feedbag.” Of course, I had no idea how big a feed bag
was. Folks, it is not large. After removing all the broken stalks there’s just about enough grain to feed a canary.
My next opportunity came when visiting relatives in a beautiful, rural area of upstate New York, where I enlisted my husband’s Danish-born cousin in my quest.
We found a promising field of unthreshed grain. After obtaining permission to harvest, we ventured forth with scythes and scissors. But in the midst of our labor we learned that we were cutting rye, not wheat! Well, don’t birds like rye? I was able to bring home enough rye to fill many feedbags, and felt quite proud.
The next step was cleaning the stalks, making bundles, and hanging them upside down in a sheltered area of our backyard. But so many stalks were broken! After all this work, I only had one bundle of wheat and three of rye.
I ended up giving the wheat bundle to a neighbor who had cheered me on all the way, but she used it as an indoor decoration. That’s OK— the birds flock to the gourmet seed in her many feeders.
So I put the remaining rye into one thick, beautiful bundle, tied it with a ribbon, hung it on our lamp post, and waited for the birds.
But the rains came first. Torrential rain. Overnight the stalks, so full and frothy and upright, bowed their heads and never lifted them again. Even the ribbon looked despondent. Did a bird ever nibble the rye? I never saw one!
Epilog: After a week or so of not much bird action with the julenek, I awoke to find its head chewed off! By the next day the whole thing was scattered on the ground. I blame the squirrels!!!
“ Hygge”—The Dollymore version
My thanks to all the lodges and contributors for your submissions for this issue of the TDT. Please continue to send me pictures and information about all things 3rd District including your Home and Garden ideas—ED