PANALBA

Last month my wife and I had the honour of being invited to a dinner being held by the Clan Campbell Association of North America, in Philadelphia. It was something of a gala occasion, and was hosted at the sumptuous and historic Union League Hall. The league was formed during the darkest days of the American Civil War, and was intended as a place where those loyal to the Union and the ideals of the Founding Fathers could come, air their views and promote the virtues of the US. As part of the evening we had a chance to look around the small museum and were shown priceless historical artefacts and documents, including the slave emancipation degree signed by Lincoln himself.

In the summer of 2012 the Campbell Association will be undertaking their first clan trip to Scotland for nearly 30 years, and I have the privilege of organising and guiding that tour for them; so it was an honour to be asked to come along to the dinner and say a few words about the forthcoming trip and a chance to meet some of the participants. We decided on a cap of around 40 for the trip, which will include visits to the clan homelands in Argyll and Highland Perthshire; and will culminate in Inveraray for the Highland Games. It promises to be a fantastic experience.

The dinner was only part of what would be a two-day gala event that included the unveiling of a new statue in Philadelphia commemorating the Scottish Diaspora and contribution to the building of the United States by the Scots. In the presence of His Grace the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell; the association along with representatives of the St Andrews Society and other Scottish interest groups met on the park between Front Street and the  I-95 highway to dedicate the monument.

The contribution of the Scots to the United States is immeasurable and lasting; and it is fitting that here in one of America’s oldest cities, indeed the birthplace of her very existence as a country that there should be a permanent memorial to the Scottish immigrants who carved out a nation. The statue, designed and built by local sculptor Terry Jones, sits close to the Irish memorial, but there is a very different feel to it. The Irish statue echoes the famine and hardship of a destitute people struggling across an ocean to a new world, taking advantage, getting stronger and emerging as Americans. There’s poignancy, and sense of enduring spirit. The Scottish memorial by contrast is about standing tall, seeing opportunity and crossing the wide seas to grasp it with both hands and building something. There is still the notion of the leaving a homeland and the courage that took, but little time to dwell upon it, with work to be done. I think this is indicative of the different attitude and reasons behind both the Scottish and Irish diasporas.

The statue itself shows an immigrant family, striding into the new world, led by the kilted clan patriarch with his trusty deerhound at his side; and joined by his son who had arrived ahead of them and now dressed in the garb of a frontiersman. A whole world of opportunity and a never ending horizon of hope lies before them. The Highlands are left behind, but not forgotten; and with the determination and will to work in their eyes you know that they will succeed in building a new land. Around the monument are standing stones, taking us back to our dark Celtic roots, and on each stone is educational information about the Scots and our contribution – and it makes for compelling reading. From the Founding Fathers to the Computer Age, the Scots have left an indelible mark upon the United States, in a way that no other people have, and it is important that it should be commemorated.

The choice of location is also no coincidence, and it sits close to the original site of the Tun Tavern; often the first stop for Scots coming off the boat into Philadelphia harbour. Here was their first look, smell and feel of the new world; here was where dreams began to take shape. It was fitting then that the St Andrews Society of Philadelphia was founded here in 1747.

The vision and craft, the spirit and perseverance of the Scots is legend, and much has been said in poem and in prose to their contribution in the making of the United States. It is right and proper that the pride, indefatigability and will to succeed which are the hallmarks of Americans, and bestowed upon them by their Scottish forefathers should be celebrated and carved in bronze. 

 

For more information on clan heritage and family history tours to Scotland please contact me at - tours@highlandexperience-usa.com or the website - www.highlandexperience-usa.com