AS sunlight dappled through the trees onto the footpath of Literary Walk in Central Park, Manhattan, six pipe bands including the Strathclyde Police Band from Glasgow, a colour guard of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot, and a parade of dignitaries marched to the Band Shell where they were welcomed by a display of Scottish dancing and music by their Grand Marshall, Hollywood film star and Academy Award winner Cliff Robertson.

Others on the podium comprised Henry J. Stern, City of New York Parks Department Commissioner; Bradford Billet, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Commission to the United Nations; Alan L. Bain, President of the American Scottish Foundation; Geoffrey Berg, British Deputy Consul General; James R. Campbell, Chieftain New York Caledonian Club; Roderick Errol Kerr Jnr, President St Andrew Society of the City of New York; Joseph Fisch, President, United States Beverage and John Lampl, Vice President of Communications for North America, British Airways. They had assembled to launch US Tartan Week 2000, in its second year fast becoming a truly remarkable celebration of Scottish ancestry across coast-to-coast America.

Meantime, similar celebrations were taking place in Chicago, notably a fashion spectacular provided by Belinda Robertson, Scotland’s top cashmere designer. That same night a Formal Ball was held at the New York Genealogical Society building with Johnnie Walker Black Label among the sponsors, and four day’s later it was Washington’s turn.

The catalyst for all this had come about in 1998 when the 6th April, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, was officially recognised by the US Congress in Resolution 155 as National Tartan Day. This provided the opportunity for Americans to honour, on an annual basis, the contributions made by Scottish Americans towards the evolution of the United States. Many of the words and phrases used in the Declaration of Arbroath, wherein the long-ago nobles of Scotland, demanded recognition of their rights from the Pope in Rome, are echoed in the American declaration of Independence, and it can be no coincidence that almost half of the signatories of the latter were of Scottish ancestry.

So what was wrong with St Andrews Day, named after Scotland’s patron saint, hitherto the traditional opportunity for Scots to celebrate? Whereas the Irish St Patrick’s Day occurs in the Spring, when the weather in North America and, indeed, in Northern Europe, is favourable for outdoor activities, St Andrews Day on 30th November is more often than not cold and wet, not exactly encouraging for parades and celebrations in the open air.

To many in today’s Scotland, with its devolved parliament creating an enhanced spirit of national identity, tartan, to a very great extent associated with the Highland clans of Scotland and a way of life largely extinct, is redolent of historical kitch. As modern Scotland struggles with its self-image, there is a tendency among some to denigrate tradition and heritage on the basis that it is holding them back. They should think again.

No other country of its size can claim to have such a versatile, colourful and instantly recognisable fabric as tartan at its disposal. Tartan is not only about the past. Tartan Day represents a platform from which to present a vibrant and vital Scotland of the future.

Walking down Fifth Avenue on a warm spring evening to seek out Manhattan’s night spots, John, Iain and David Stirling, three young kilted brothers from Arbroath, who organise golf tours and had come to join in the celebrations, concluded that this must be the friendliest city in the world. That is until they reached Washington.

Behind the passing of Resolution 155 was former US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, whose mother is a member of the Clan Buchanan which once proudly inhabited the shores of Loch Lomond. In consequence it was decided by the American Scottish Foundation that he should receive their coveted Wallace Award. The Foundation, incidentally, was set up in Manhattan in 1954 by Lady Malcolm Douglas Hamilton, the aunt of the present Duke of Hamilton, to raise funds in support of Scottish charitable causes.

Past recipients of this award which is given in recognition of the achievements of American Scots include General Douglas MacArthur, the film star Greer Garson, Ambassador Francis Kellogg, fashion guru Diane Vreeland, and the DNA pioneer James Watson.

But there was an added dimension to the presentation this time. To begin with, it was made on the steps of the Capitol Building following the joint-opening of the Senate Proceedings by Senate Chaplain Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, President of the St Andrews Society of Washington DC and the Rt. Rev John Cairns, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Emotions ran strong as well-known singer Wintley Phipps sang the hymn "Amazing Grace", and American Scottish Foundation President Alan Bain handed over the award. Bain, a Manhattan-based attorney, with his colleagues Duncan Macdonald and Joann Phipps, who heads up the Washington ASF, and their various voluntary support groups, had worked long and hard to achieve this day. That evening at the British Embassy, UK Ambassador Sir Christopher Meyer, paid tribute to them and promised his support in the years ahead.

And as a result, last year’s celebrations were equally triumphant, with the Wallace Award presented in the same Capitol Building setting to Hollywood veteran Sir Sean Connery. Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Eric Milligan attended the New York parade with Scotland’s First Minister Henry McLeish, who then travelled to Washington for the subsequent events and managed an interview with President George W. Bush into the bargain.

Nobody can underestimate the impact of the events of September 11th 2001, and the worldwide wave of shock and condemnation they provoked. Never before has it been so important to show worldwide solidarity against such acts of terrorism, and the highlight of Tartan Day on 6th April in Manhattan this year is to be Tunes of Glory, when between 6,000 and 10,000 kilted pipers from many countries where the so-called Scottish diaspora is strong will march down 6th Avenue and into Central Park.

The proceeds from charitable donations relating to this and sponsorship from Scottish Power and Visit Scotland will go towards two cancer charities, Marie Currie Cancer Care in the UK and The Gilda Fund in the USA. On the night of the 5th April, a glittering $1,000 a ticket ball is scheduled to take place at the Waldorf Astoria attended by Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell with his wife Bridget. Others who will be taking tables from Scotland include brother and sister Scottish bus tycoons Ann Gloag and Brian Souter. In tandem with these rather glitzy events, there will be a piping concert at the New York Centre for Performing Arts and the Visit Scotland sponsored Distilled in Scotland, a programme of talks and exhibitions held over from last October’s UKinNY. A whole army of Scottish personalities and public figures have in principle committed to attend, including super chef Clarissa Dickson Wright; radio and television broadcaster Sheena McDonald; the McGregor Band, comprising the father, brother and cousins of Holywood super star Ewan McGregor; Sir Sean Connery; Scottish Secretary of State Helen Liddell; Scottish Tourism Minister Lord Watson, and once again Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Eric Milligan

In Washington on 9th April the Wallace Award Ceremony is also scheduled to take place again, with this year’s nominated joint-recipients President George W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, but details of where this will take place and indeed whether or not they have accepted, have yet to be announced. Whatever the outcome, a whole series of other diverse Tartan Day celebrations is certainly in the pipeline.

One thing is certain. With Tartan Day ostensibly mushrooming into Tartan Fortnight, the blood is strong. From Toronto over the Canadian Border to San Diego in the far west, Scotland’s descendants will be making themselves known as never before.

A report from Tartan Day 2002 will be published at the Burke’s Peerage & Gentry web site in April 2002 www.burkes-scotland.com

Roddy Martine’s Website - www.roddymartine.com

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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