Education
About 350 guests from various fields, including politics, culture, business, diplomacy, internal security, and media, gathered at the Tea House, which was adorned in the U.S. national colors of red, white, and blue for the event. The musical entertainment was provided by the State Police Orchestra of North Rhine-Westphalia and singer Oliver Schmitt, featuring a vibrant mix of German and American hits, and, of course, the national anthems were played to honor the day.
The afternoon was dedicated to the NRW-USA Year, which began a year ago in a very similar setting and has since celebrated numerous successful events. The significant importance of transatlantic cooperation for NRW was highlighted by Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Head of the State Chancellery, as well as Dr. Stephan Keller, Mayor of Düsseldorf, in their opening remarks. The speakers emphasized that in times of global crises, it is crucial for partners in the transatlantic community of values to rely on each other and stand together.
For U.S. Consul General Pauline Kao, who noted how much the situation in Germany and Europe has changed since her arrival three years ago due to Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine, the Independence Day reception was also an opportunity to reflect on her time in Germany and bid farewell to Düsseldorf and NRW as she prepares for her next diplomatic post in China in August. As she concluded her time in NRW, she reiterated that now is the time to deepen transatlantic cooperation – a partnership that began about 350 years ago with the emigration of 13 families from the Krefeld region to the United States and should continue into a shared future. Her final message was: “The relationship between NRW and the USA consists of countless different connections – and no matter what happens, these connections remain. In good times, we celebrate our successes; in difficult times, these numerous connections anchor us. The transatlantic relationship is fundamental and indispensable; let us focus on readiness to act and unity.”
