On the day before the parade, Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell planted a commemorative tree in Central Park, and on the evening before, wore a kilt to the glitzy $1,000-per-head charity Ball at the Waldorf Astoria. Accompanying him were the Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer Sir David Steel, Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Eric Milligan, Glasgow’s Lord Provost Alex Masson, and Scottish tourism Minister Lord Watson. From America, there were former US Senator Bill Bradley and his wife Ernestine; former Governor and First Lady of New York Mario and Matilda Cuomo; NYS Assembly Minority Leader The Hon John Faso, and former US Senator Frank Lautenberg. Also from Scotland were Scottish rugby hero Gavin Hastings and the Earl and Countess of Wemyss, and a presentation was made of a City of New York Tartan, specially designed by Lochcarron who chose light blue to represent the Hudson River, green for Scotland’s hills, and black in memory of the victims of September 11th.

Following Saturday’s parade, Jack and Bridget McConnell and Sir David Steel hosted a reception in the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel. At this was an additional Scottish parliament delegation, a separate SNP MSP representation, and temporary cultural migrants from the Scottish film, art and book worlds. The Scots were indeed out in force. In a Chelsea loft, a three-day Scottish cabaret was provided under the title Distilled: Live Scotland in New York. Among those taking part were Scottish comedians Arnold Brown and Rhona Cameron, Mull Historical Society and Gutty Slippers.

On Ellis Island, the National Museum of Scotland’s Home and Away exhibition, curated by Maureen Barrie, stood out as a beacon of what USA Tartan Day is all about: the emigrant ancestors of ordinary Americans who over three centuries crossed the Atlantic Ocean to create the world’s greatest democracy. Central to this was the Emigrant’s Kist, the travelling chest in which they packed their few treasures, providing a unique insight into the lives of those who left behind them the Highlands and Islands of their birthplace. Opened by National Museums of Scotland chairman Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, the Save Ellis Island committee was represented by Robert Currie, Commander of the Clan Currie in America, who spoke of immigration from Scotland not as being a romantic image, but one of "spirit, courage and resourcefulness", qualities he ascribed to his great-great-great grandfather who left Arran at the time of the Highland Clearances.

On Sunday afternoon, the focus of Tartan Day moved to Washington where there were pipers and Highland dancers on the National Mall. In the evening, the Washington Arts Club was the location of an informal dinner and tasting demonstrated by the distinguished Scotch whisky writer Wallace Milroy.

In Washington, until very recently, the main Tartan Day event was to have been the presentation of the American Scottish Foundation’s Wallace Award given jointly to President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in recognition of their united response to the events of September 11th. However, with the war against terrorism still inconclusive, neither leader felt it appropriate to accept the reward at this juncture.

Also, the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and her funeral on Tuesday 9th April, meant that First Minister McConnell, and the leaders of the Scottish National Party and Scottish Conservatives were obliged to postpone their participation in the Washington programme. However, other Scottish politicians such as Patricia Ferguson, Minister for Parliamentary Business, a private contingent from the SNP including "Mother of the Scottish Parliament" Winnie Ewing, and Wendy Alexander, Scotland’s Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Life-Long Learning, readily stood in for them.

At the Scottish American Business Forum sponsored by D. Euan Baird and held at the Pepco Conference Centre on Monday morning, Wendy Alexander spoke eloquently of Scotland’s place in today’s global economy and the need to make Scotland a place to do business through developing Scotland’s science and skills. Other participants included William J. Sim, Senior Vice President, Power Delivery, Pepco; Martin Togneri, Senior Director, International Operations, Scottish Enterprise; Alastair S. McEwan, President, Americas Clinical of Inveresk Research; Dr John W. Holaday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EntreMed Inc, and Dr Gary Evans, US Chief Executive Officer, Angle Technology Group.

In the evening, there was a concert given by three Scottish tenors - Alan Beck, Peter Alexander Wilson, and Paul Featherstone - in the headquarters of the National Geographic Society. Uncompromisingly singing the songs of Kenneth McKellar, Robert Burns and Sir Harry Lauder, they received a standing ovation.

On Thursday, the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, Stirling and Montgomery College, Maryland met to discuss Scotland’s contribution to the growth and development of the USA. Chaired by Edinburgh University’s Alice Brown, the keynote speaker was Professor Ted Cowan, head of Scottish history at Glasgow University who brilliantly analysed the claims surrounding the shared content of the Declaration of Arbroath and the American Declaration of Independence. Following this, Hugh Cheape, the accomplished piper and curator of the National Museums of Scotland, presented Songs Inspired by the Scottish Diaspora, accompanied by Paul Jordan of the Scottish National Fiddle Orchestra.

It is important to understand, however, that USA Tartan Day is not simply confined to Washington and New York. At Fremont, California, there were Scottish fiddlers and harpers performing; in San Francisco, there was Scottish country dancing. In New Hampshire, George Fergusson, British Consul General, attended a Tartan Day Recognition ceremony at the New Hampshire House of Representatives. There were pipers and dancers in Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Austin, Charlotte, Oakman, Sarasota, and Tulsa.

In Canada, a Tartan Day Concert was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and even in Scotland, the day was recognised with the start of Tain and Dornoch Firth Tartan Week. Scotland’s reach is far and wide, and the sons and daughters of the auld country are proud of the heritage that Tartan Day recognises.

For every one of us who shares a Scottish ancestry, or indeed, simply a love of Scotland, Tartan Day provides a focus for a hands across the water alliance. Political and day-to-day differences are put aside in recognition of the common bond of friendship. This is a precious commodity in an otherwise uncertain world, and something that all of us must strive with determination to maintain. Tartan Day 2002, in all its manifestations, has proved that once the momentum has been started, something very special can be achieved

5, Haddington Place, EDINBURGH, EH7 4AE, UK. Fax: 0131-557 3803 Email: Enitramcr@aol.com Website: www.roddymartine.com

"As featured in the May issue of the Scottish Banner"

Books by Roddy Martine-

Scottish Clan & Family Names - Arms, Origins and Tartans
Foreword by Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight
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The Edinburgh Tattoo
Foreword by HRH The Princess Royal
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Scotland - The Land and the Whiskey
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Living in the Highlands
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