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National Tartan Day Celebrations in Washington, DC SUMMIT, NJ - The Clan Currie Society announced today that they will take a lead role in underwriting the National Capital Tartan Day Celebrations to be held this April. Clan Currie will provide sponsorship for a spectacular Scottish concert to be held at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. The concert will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2003, immediately following the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. The program, which will run from noon to 2 PM, is open to the general public and presented free-of-charge. The concert, which will commence at noon, will showcase some of our nation’s finest Scottish performers, including Celtic singer Christina Harrison and Scottish balladeer Charlie Zahm. Also invited to appear is Scottish fiddle champion Elke Baker. As an added attraction, the Pipes and Drums of the Canadian Black Watch (RHR) have been invited to participate.
On Sunday, April 6, Clan Currie will join with their fellow clans and associations
on the Capital Mall for a grand highland gathering complete with sanctioned
athletic and pipe band competitions, highland and country dance demonstrations,
and a whole host of cultural displays and programs. “We are absolutely thrilled that Clan Currie has stepped forward as the first clan society to offer support for our celebration,” said Al Ankrum, president of the National Capital Tartan Day Committee. “We are well aware of Clan Currie’s strong commitment to raising awareness for National Tartan Day through their ongoing support of events both here in Washington as well as in New York.” The National Capital Tartan Day Committee is comprised of members representing such stalwart Scots organizations as the Scottish-American Military Society; the Clans of Scotland; The Living Legacy of Scotland; and the St. Andrew’s societies of Washington, Baltimore, Frederick, Richmond, and the Eastern Shore. "Clan Currie is thrilled to be returning to Washington to help support the observance of National Tartan Day" said Robert Currie of the Clan Currie. "This important American day of commemoration, created by Senate Resolution, serves to honor both our Scots ancestors as well as contemporary Scottish Americans who continue to contribute so much to our great nation". In 2001, Clan Currie was a lead sponsor of Tartan Day events in Washington, D.C. which featured the presentation of the prestigious Wallace Award to Sir Sean Connery on the steps of the U.S. Capital. Last year, Clan Currie hosted “Tartan Day on Ellis Island”, which featured the grand opening of Home and Away; a traveling exhibit on Scottish immigration on loan from the National Museums of Scotland. The concert and highland gathering are but two of the many events planned by the National Capital Tartan Day Committee in and around Washington. Also in the planning stages are a Kirkin’ of the Tartans service at the Baltimore Basilica, a concert featuring Scots entertainer John McDermott at the Carpenter Center in Richmond, Virginia, and a Capital Ball to be held at the National Cathedral School in Washington. A complete list of events and schedule can be found on the Committee’s website at www.NationalCapital-TartanDay.org. Tartan Day is a national American celebration which recognizes the contributions of Scots and Scottish-Americans to the development of the United States. In 1998 the U.S. Senate passed a resolution under the sponsorship of U.S. Senator Trent Lott recognizing 6 April as National Tartan Day in recognition of "the outstanding contribution of millions of Scots-Americans to our great nation." The date commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 which was an influence on the American Declaration of Independence. Almost half of the signatories on the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, while three quarters of U.S. Presidents have been of Scottish ancestry. Tartan Day in the United States became a reality through the organizing efforts of The Scottish Coalition. The national organizations that comprise the Coalition serve the Scottish-American community principally through research, long-term planning, and a resource for information and guidance. For further information on Tartan Day events in Washington, contact the National Capital Tartan Day Committee at 410-796-3008. For further information on the Clan Currie Society visit the Society’s website at www.clancurrie.com.
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