National Tartan Day, 2008

The White House ^ | April 4, 2008 | GEORGE W. BUSH

[mdittmar]

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Americans of Scottish descent have made enduring contributions to our Nation with their hard work, faith, and values. On National Tartan Day, we celebrate the spirit and character of Scottish Americans and recognize their many contributions to our culture and our way of life.

Scotland and the United States have long shared ties of family and friendship, and many of our country's most cherished customs and ideals first grew to maturity on Scotland's soil. The Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence signed in 1320, embodied the Scots' strong dedication to liberty, and the Scots brought that tradition of freedom with them to the New World. Sons and daughters of many Scottish clans were among the first immigrants to settle in America, and their determination and optimism helped build our Nation's character. Several of our Founding Fathers were of Scottish descent, as have been many Presidents and Justices of the United States Supreme Court. Many Scottish Americans, such as Andrew Carnegie, were great philanthropists, founding and supporting numerous scientific, educational, and civic institutions. From the evocative sounds of the bagpipes to the great sport of golf, the Scots have also left an indelible mark on American culture.

National Tartan Day is an opportunity to celebrate all Americans who claim Scottish ancestry, and we are especially grateful for the service in our Armed Forces of Scottish Americans who have answered the call to protect our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 6, 2008, as National Tartan Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day by celebrating the continued friendship between the people of Scotland and the United States and by recognizing the contributions of Scottish Americans to our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

[LiteKeeper]

My ancestors came from the Isle of Bute. We are members of the Stuart of Bute clan.

One of my ancestors was the commanding officer of the Queen's [Mary] personal guard. Thus the Isle of Bute was possessed by our family for a time.

How I would love to visit there.

[Windflier]

<< What say you,you Scotts? >>

Got my Clan Bell badge tattooed on my right shoulder, and my Bell of The Borders kilt in the closet.

Proud Border Reivers we be. Happy Tartan Day!

[austinaero]

Clan Kinnaird here!

“Patitur Qui Vincit”

He who is patient, conquers.

I wish I knew how to paste the tartan and crest into this note. I think they are quite interesting.

[Myrddin]

Not only Scots, the Irish have tartans, too.

The Welsh do as well. I'd be hard pressed to choose as my paternal grandfather was Welsh, paternal grandmother was Scot/Irish, maternal grandmother was Irish and maternal grandfather was English with a Norman surname.

[Myrddin]

The Edwards tartan from Wales

[decal]

Gibsons/Gilberts and variants are septs of Clan Buchanan - my ma is a Gilbert, so I wear the Buchanan tartan.

http://www.scotsconnection.com/clan_crests/Buchanan.htm

[21twelve]

I’ll have to wear my tartan shirt to church. I showed up at a meeting and one of the preacher’s said my shirt was for her clan! Lots of orange and yellow in it. I told her “Well - it was my old man’s, and we’re 100% Norwegian ancestry - so no relation I suppose”. (Although I guess we COULD be related due to all of the raiding and pillaging and other sundry things my Viking ancestors may have done on “vacation” on the Islands...)

Anyway - will wear it to church in honor of the Scottish! (Hey - happen to know when National Lutefiske Day is?).

[Just mythoughts]

BACK to the TOP!!!

[Candor7]

Thought I would take the plunge and gi' ye folk a picture a' the me, warmin' up before the son's wedding in Japan.

BTW, the Japanese like the bagpipes, they have a Shinto effect.

Happy Tartan Day to you ALL!

[Myrddin]

Very nice. I was surprised by a group playing bagpipes on the street in Aberystwyth one afternoon. They were dressed in Welsh tartans and played a fine bit of music on the pipes. I'll bet that trip to Japan was as interesting for you as your music was for them.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks for the ping, sionnsar! I’ll make sure to wear my plaid flannel bathrobe to church tomorrow!

[Born Conservative]

Nice to meet another Freeper with ancestors from Girvan (in Ayrshire)!

[Born Conservative]

Clan Baird here.

                  

Hunting Tartan	Dress Tartan	Ancient Tartan

[sionnsar]

Interesting passage, it gives the impression that Highland clan tartans were never really all that cut-and-dried to begin with.

They weren't. My understanding is that there were regional patterns that did identify the wearer, but that's as far as it went.

Consider how boring it would be if your entire clan all wore exactly the same tartan all the time... and to what end?

[PLMerite]

We need to see if we can tie this in with Moon AMTRAK Day.

http://www.moonamtrak.org/

[Keith Brown]

LOL!

Yes. Thanks

As a kilt maker and president of the Celtic Society here in WA, I hear rumors.....

[Keith Brown]

Drop me a line at info@neokilt.com.

[SandRat]

Well,.. my CD of the Scots Pipes will be playin loud. lol

[Keith Brown]

Go with an American kilt maker.

WWW.Neokilt.com

We can build a holster into your kilt if you’d like.

[Keith Brown]

[IMG]http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/neokilt/l_378bbec223ab7e5bcf09b8ee6d3276c8.jpg[/IMG]

Fide Et Fortudine!