Friends,
When Linda and I arrived back in 2018, it was such a whirlwind of activity that it honestly took our collective breath away. It was exciting and fast.
On one day, I was in Washington, D.C. taking my oath from Vice President Mike Pence and then we were suddenly presenting my paperwork to Palace Protocol (to one of the most wonderful people in the world Ambassador Beatrice Kirsch) followed by an audience with Grand Duke Henri to present my credentials.
Immediately thereafter, I met my colleagues in the Diplomatic Corp. for the celebration of the Grand Duke’s birthday; and then attended our Independence Day celebration at the Chief of Mission Residence at a hugely successful event thanks to Paperjam where I met so, so many people.
This beginning reflected itself the perfect combination of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s motto “Let’s Make it Happen” and Embassy Luxembourg’s motto of “Honoring Past While Looking to the Future.” And for the time I have been here, that is what the great staff at the U.S. Embassy and I have done with Luxembourgers across the Grand Duchy.
In reflecting back, it is easy to focus on the really big things – things that no one thought possible, or in some cases cannot believe even now that we achieved together even as I leave. But my time here has confirmed that which I suspected before I arrived: The Grand Duchy is a treasure that few in my country seem to know about. So, from when I arrived and continuing forward, I have set out to share its beauty, talents, achievements, opportunities, and potential with everyone, especially those back in the United States.
From the sacrifices more than 75 years ago to the visions for the future, I believed our shared commitment in freedom, liberty, and hope could lead to great things. Thankfully, there were so many here in the Grand Duchy who shared those beliefs that it was like pushing on an open door.
When United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross came to Luxembourg to sign the first Memorandum on Space between the United States of America and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg thanks to the wonderful work of then Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider, many were shocked and surprised. What few people knew was that it was only the beginning. With the help and support of Economy Minister Franz Fayot, Luxembourg would subsequently join the space sector elite in the world as a founding nation in the Artemis Accords.
And, when Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, came here to celebrate our Independence Day and the 50th Anniversary of Man walking on the moon, it was indeed “Legendary” as one newspaper described it. To have a whole host of leaders from our Congress join us made it even more special.
Luxembourgers and Americans alike shared their personal memories of where they were on THAT night – the night that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon.
Many had to have wondered, how can this new American Ambassador top that? But it was not a competition. It was the pursuit of a shared love of things we had in common. We had looked to the stars, but we had not forgotten how we had gotten to where we are today.
On the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, heads of state including Grand Duke Henri, Prime Minister Bettel, a Presidential Delegation (of which I was proudly a member), many more Senators and Members of Congress including Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, along with members of the leadership in both political parties of the United States, and many more dignitaries from around the world came to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Among the very most important to attend were World War II survivors who had come back to say thank you to their fellow soldiers buried at the Luxembourg-American Military Cemetery. And we, tearfully, stood together and said ‘thank you’ to them for their sacrifice so that we might be free.
One of my favorite Luxembourgers wrote me and said: “It was an event like no Luxembourg has ever seen before or likely may ever see again.” I knew it was special when, notwithstanding the forecast, the clouds parted, the rain stopped, and we pulled back the tents so that we could all look out and appreciate (with, as in my case and I am sure many others, a private prayer).
Those would have been enough, but we, working together, did not stop. We just kept getting things done. AMCHAM has been and will undoubtedly be an important part of those efforts. Paul Schonenberg, and the entire AMCHAM team have been there at every step of the way.
But all of these accomplishments have been a two-way street with Luxembourg leaders playing such a key role in delivering on great things for a promising future for this country. Deputy Prime Minister Francois Bausch, Gilles Feith, and Minister Henri Kox along with others including the unbelievable General Alain Duschene travelled to Washington, D.C. to visit with the Pentagon, Senators, and other senior leadership officials. And when Members of Congress came to Luxembourg, Speaker Fernand Etgen was the perfect host. It seemed he was always there when we needed him.
Meanwhile, back in Luxembourg, Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna and I worked to finally shake free the ratification of a tax treaty that had languished for over a decade. John Parkhouse, Bob Kneip and Jean Ries (and his wife Jeannine) would explain the terrain of things I did not know.
And Guy de Muyser and Victor Kneip would provide the context I needed to avoid mistakes that have side- tracked efforts in the past. Mars di Bartolomeo would occasionally remind me that friends do not agree on everything, but they can still be friends.
Roland and Silvia Gaul and Clervaux Mayor Emile Eicher kept finding creative and wonderful ways of celebrating our veterans and commemorating important historical events. He and Mayor Jean-Paul Schaaf found ways to commemorate and celebrate service, sacrifice, and victory earned 75 years ago. And, if there was a tank to be found, whether in Clervaux, Ettelbruck or Diekirch, I just had to jump up on it.
So many things happened, they are impossible to list. All of them came about because people with good hearts and great intentions worked together to make them happen. It was a beautiful sight to see. So, I wanted so many more to see what a spectacular country Luxembourg was – even amidst the Coronavirus that had shut us down.
With the help of President Koen Lenaerts of the European Court of Justice, we brought to Luxembourg sixteen of the most influential U.S. Ambassadors in Europe along with the President and Chairman of Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Counsellor to the Secretary of State, the former Speaker of the United States Congress, Mike Gold from NASA and Kevin O’Connell from the U.S. Department of Commerce to see what I had seen – the future – Luxembourg.
Yet, one issue lingered for me – the unfinished business of issues remaining from the Holocaust including Cinqfontaines, dormant accounts, and Holocaust survivors. Many told me it could not be done, and certainly could not be done in the time I had as Ambassador. But we have moved forward to bring closure to these issues as well.
Make no mistake, I know that I have been no ordinary diplomat. I love to laugh, climb up on tanks, participate in WWII re-enactments, pay special tributes to the only woman in the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery (Nancy Leo), and go to every commemoration – no matter how big or small. Time spent with Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla, two of the most brilliant people I know, exploring the current events of the day were and the future for us all were indescribable.
Amidst these wonderful memories, I have not been oblivious to pain and suffering both our countries face now from the COVID 19 – praying constantly, crying occasionally, and doing everything I can to help both countries get through this horrible pandemic. In these times, Luxembourg deserved and got a United States Ambassador who cared and helped with all the will and power I had.
So now, I take leave with many more friends than I started and with a solid appreciation that the leaders in the U.S. and Luxembourg know much more about each other, have many more platforms from which to do great things, and are ready, willing and able to “Let’s make it happen” including “Honoring the past while looking to the future.”
Thank you for that. Linda and I will carry it in our hearts for all the days of my life.
Ambassador J. Randolph Evans & Linda