Rollo Statues

["Spirit One Email" <laurel@spiritone.com>]

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I was looking for something else and found this that effects every single
Sinclair/St.Clair/etc. in the whole wide world!:

The first part is a summary of Rollo's historical story....then it continues
thusly:

"We now slip through the next several centuries to the year 1911.  The
French had forgiven Rollo and the Vikings for plundering and pillaging their
northern parts.  They recognized the great contributions the Norsemen had
made toward modern French culture; Rollo's rule of Normandy was based on
rarely-followed democratic principles.  (Or they just wanted an excuse to
throw a party).  They chose to celebrate the thousand year anniversary of
King Charles' deal with Rollo.  Among those attending the festivities in
Rouen, the capital of Normandy, were representatives of the Norwegian
government, Sons of Norway and the Norman Society of America.

      As part of the millennial, a statue of Rollo was made depicting the
old Viking gripping his sword with one hand and pointing at the land he
claimed with the other.  This statue was erecte in Rouen and a replica was
sent to Ålesund, Norway, Rollo's home territory.

    The third statue was given to the citizens of Fargo, ND and shipped to
America.  Another celebration was planned for the weekend of July 12, 1912,
in Fargo.  The statue would be dedicated at its location near the Great
Northern railroad depot.  The Sons of Norway convention, then in session,
the officers and delegates would take part in the parade and dedication of
the statue.  Patriotic music representing France, the USA and Norway was
performed by bands and sung by the thousands gathered, including rep. of the
appropriate governments and national organizations.  A proclamation by the
mayor of Rouen, bound in leather with gold seal of the city, gold leaf and
other ornamentation, read in part, "Since these ancient times, these fierce
warriors have populated and have become a hard-working people whose
importance is shown by the powerful association of the Sons of Norway which
has preserved the cult of memory, and which participated last year in the
celebrations in the ancient Duchy of Normandy."
    Reading of this inspired Sons of Norway member Jo Skodje, who first
encountered Rollo's statue was a lad who grew up in Fargo in 1920's and
30's.  As an Air Force pilot during World War II, Skodje witnessed the
destruction of many Normandy cities.  A few years ago, after reading about
Rollo, he returned to the sites he had traveled through during wartime.
    Having seen first-hand what war could do, Skodje wondered about the fate
of the Rollo statue in Rouen.  He wrote about his visit to the site: "We
reached the church yard and among many references to Joan of Arc,  we
rounded the corner of the church and saw it.  Standing in the familiar pose
and surrounded by flowers was the original statue of Rollo.  After two world
wars and nearly 75 winters, he was much the worse for wear.  Missing was his
finger pointing to the earth and a portion of his sword, but he had been
found.
    Pursuit of Rollo by Skodje did not end there.  "in a beautiful park on
the west coast of Norway, in the picture postcard city of Ålesund, stands
the third and final statue.  Here, a scant 15 miles from the tiny town of
Skodje (his father's birthplace),--the search ended."
    The Rollo statue in Fargo was relocated in a new home in a small park
and rededicated.  A time capsule was placed in the base of the granite
plaque near the statue.  The inscription on the plaque is in English, French
and Norwegian:  "For world peace Normans united.  Rollo, born in 860 A.D. in
Møre, Norway.  Founded the dukedom of Normandy 911.  His line through
William the conqueror became the royal house of England 1066 and Norway
1905."  Rollo was honored "not simply as a viking marauder but as a citizen
with remarkable ideals in governing Normandy.  His ideals, his ideas, his
manner of governing has had a lasting effect."  And three cities help keep
alive his memory.
(Edited from "Viking", by Gloria Bouschor, former Editor of Yours Aye)

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