Happy July 4th

A beautiful afternoon in Helsinki to celebrate the 247th anniversary of the Independence of the United States. Before you check your calendar, the party was yesterday, June 15th. Finnish summer holidays typically start from Midsummer (June 23rd) so it is easier to assemble a large crowd to celebrate in mid-June rather than on the Fourth of July.

A great party with food, drink, meeting old and new friends, plus a flyover of a US Air Force F35 accompanied by two Finnish Air Force Hornets.

Photos: with Nexar Antonio Flores, Harriet Nyholm-Pasternak, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, CEO of Amcham Finland Alexandra Pasternak-Jackson, and US Ambassador to Finland Douglas Hickey. Note the Ambassador received my “white sports coat” memo.