For decades the head-speakers of the Rebild celebration has been initiated into the Guild on the morning of the 4th of July - just before they leave for the tent-lunch and the festivities in Rebild Hills.
And of course it went according to the tradition this year too. The two head-speakers, Peter Work – who is a wine grover from California – and TV-journalist and former USA-correspondent for DR (Denmarks Radio), Kim Bilsøe Lassen, had first to sit nicely – but in good spirits – at an empty table, and then stand on either side of the benchers in Duus’ Winecellar, while the benchers – as the ritual bids – several times called out: “Our thirst first.”
The companions of the head-speakers, Rebecca Work and Divya Das, were initiated too, and so were several members of the Rebild Society, as well as the American military attaché to Denmark, James F. Gibson, and his wife Margie.
The American ambassador, Rufus Gifford, was initiated last year, when he for the first time attended the festivities in the Rebild Hills, but there was a very friendly meeting with the benchers at the tent-lunch, where the ambassador also participated.
Photo: Jens Morten and Fini Ryming