The value of friendship and history

Luxembourg Consular Stan Myck was impressed by the reverence given to his country’s history during his first visit to Belgium and the Luxembourg American Cultural Society Museum.

He joked with  LACS Executive Director Sara Jacoby that “our history is better taken care of here than in Luxembourg,” 

But the deep relationship between the United States and Luxembourg is a serious matter. Luxembourg was liberated by U.S. troops in 1918 and again in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 and 1945.

“The importance of the friendship between the U.S. and Luxembourg is very very important and highly regarded,” he said during a phone interview on Tuesday. “Without the U.S. and the Marshal Plan, we and other countries in Europe would not be where we are. That’s without a doubt.”

Myck is a former first secretary to the United Nations for Luxembourg who now works for his country’s embassy in Washington, D.C. He came to the LACS to meet area Luxembourgers and their descendents and to visit Luxembourg-built sites. He is thankful the LACS members support the museum to keep memories alive.

Part of his mission, he said, is to remind people of the lessons of history so they don’t repeat the same mistakes.

“Unfortunately, (history is) not always taken care of and we forget that so many people had to die and give their lives so that we can live the way we are living today,” he said.

He liked that the Luxembourg National Youth Wind Orchestra visited the LACS in summer and hopes for a renewed interest in history among both country’s teenagers that he said has slipped in the past several years.

Regardless, Myck said at the embassy he has excellent cooperation with counterparts from the United States.

“This is something that will always be deeply rooted in our nations. It’s not so important who is politically in charge in our country or here in the U.S. It is important the nations’ friendship continues,” he said.