SHA places time capsule in park
In case anyone forgets, a time capsule laid in Minot, ND Tuesday Oct. 9, 2007 will remind the next generation of Scandinavian descendants of their heritage.
The Scandinavian Heritage Association (SHA) placed the time capsule next to the Gol Stave Church in the Scandinavian Heritage Park during a ceremony that featured a flag show by youth from Hill Middle School. (See Images/Minot 2007 for more pictures of the ceremony).
Mark Anderson, president of the Heritage Association, said he believes heritage will be as important to those who unveil the time capsule in 50 years as it is for those who bury it this week.
"It is important for all of us to know where we came from. This is just our way of preserving this history for the next generation. I think they will be just as interested in their ancestors as we are today", Andersen said.
The two-foot-long stainless steel capsule contains morabilia to preserve the history of the Scandinavian Heritage Association, which was formed in 1989. It also contains artifacts related to Norsk Høstfest, celebrating its 30th year, and Minot. Each of the five Scandinavian ethnic branches is represented in the time capsule.
The dedication service featured a presentation of U.S. and state flags by Jim Hill Middle school students.
Students received a gold paper clip and membership in Concerned Leaders in Preservation, or the CLIP-Club. They received cards identifying them as witnesses to the burial of the time capsule who promise to return for its unearthing, if possible, on Oct 9, 2057.
Norwegian patent clerk Johan Vaaler, who lived from 1866 to 1910, is credited for inventing the first paper clip. During the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II, pins or badges bearing national symbols were outlawed. The Norwegians adopted paper clips as their symbol of resistance, wearing them on their lapels.
Tuesday's program included remarks from Arland Fiske, former pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot; Rolf Haugen, city attorney from Minot's sister city of Skien, Norway, George Officer of Minot, chairman of the Gol Stave Church Museum committee; and Rev. Luther Hanson, Trinity Homes Chaplain and Heritage Association Vice-president.
Rolf Haugen from Skien said the time capsule preserves important historical information for the next generation. But he added, it doesn't replace the work of educating young people about Scandinavian heritage in the 50-year interrim.
(Staff writer Jiill Schramm, Minot Daily News).