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Norwegian Lady, and Sons of Norway 50th Anniversary Commemoration |
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Jim Mungenast
(a retired US Air Force Brigadier General) who is a good friend of James
Rogers, visited Maj Gen Tom Knutsen and his wife Liv in Oslo, Norway,
just a week after the horrible July 22, 2011 tragedy there - the worst
tragedy in Norway since the attacks of WWII.
READ ABOUT THAT HERE
General Mungenast, knowing that James
is a great writer and performer of many great patriotic songs, suggested
to James that a song might be a great way for the United States to express
the outpouring of sympathy and support for Norway, who are great friends
and allies of the US. The United States felt those same emotions ten
years ago, when 9/11 occurred, killing thousands of innocent civilians
in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon. James readily agreed to
do this, without any expectation of recompense. So...Song For Norway
was born.
James Rogers performing
"Song For Norway" Video-NOW ON 'YOUTUBE'
In
hopes and efforts to find an appropriate forum for James to introduce
his song for Norway, General Mungenast spoke with his good Norwegian
friend General Knutsen, and worked with Rear Admiral Trond Grytting
in the Norwegian Embassy, to investigate potential meaningful events
to introduce this song. Commander Bjarte Bang Abelson (Norwegian Navy,
who also works in that Embassy) learned that the Norwegian Lady Foundation
was planning an event in Virginia Beach, for March 31, 2012 to commemorate
the 50 years since the Norwegian Lady Statue was erected in Virginia
Beach, VA, and told General Mungenast about that event.
CLICK
HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE NORWEGIAN LADY STATUE
Upon hearing the song, Mr. Hal Bernsen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Norwegian Lady Plaza Foundation, agreed that James Rogers performing this song would be a wonderful addition to the 50 year anniversary of the Norwegian Lady Statue. An added plus was that the local Sons of Norway chapter (under Chapter President Mike Beck) was celebrating their 40th anniversary as a chapter, that evening following the Norwegian Lady celebration, so James was invited to sing his Song for Norway to that group as well. Hopefully additional opportunities will arise for James to share his wonderful song with many more Norwegians in Norway as well as Americans of Norwegian descent.
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Note from James about this song:
IT IS NOW OUR HOPE TO SHARE THIS SONG
.... THIS PRAYER ....
WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE...BOTH IN THE USA AND IN NORWAY....
I HOPE TO GO THERE TO SING IT FOR THEM AND DO A SPECIAL SHOW... PERFORMANCE...
I HAVE ALREADY MADE MANY NEW FRIENDS BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT...
SOMETIMES TRAGEDYS CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH A COMMON HOPE
AND A COMMON DESIRE FOR GOOD... MY PRAYER IS THAT THE SONG WILL HELP
INSPIRE
PEOPLE WITH HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
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THANK YOU, General Jim Mungenast,
for so generously sharing photos,
and this story of the history of James' great song, with us.
CLICK
HERE FOR GENERAL MUNGENAST'S BIOGRAPHY
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RADM (retired) Hal Bernsen,
Chairman of the Norwegian Lady Plaza Foundation
James with Ambassador Wegger
Chr. Strommen
and his wife.
Wegger Chr. Strommen, Ambassador
of Norway to the United States
RADM (retired) Hal Bernsen, and
James Rogers
Brig Gen (retired)
Jim Mungenast, James
Rogers, and Mr. Michael Beck,
the President of the local Sons of Norway Chapter
CDR Bjarte Bang, Royal Norwegian
Navy (RNoN), CAPT Bjorn Egenberg, RNoN,
James Rogers, CAPT Tollefsen, RNoN, and Brig Gen (retired) Jim Mungenast
*Click Photo for
larger view*
**If
you didn't get to see the article about this in the Mountain Press,
you can find it here** 
(THANK YOU, Gale Haggard FOR SENDING THIS INFO)
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