"It is a pleasure and honor for Kim Nesselquist, Consul of Norway, to announce that His Majesty the King of Norway on January 7, 2008 has bestowed upon Marianne Forssblad the Medal of St. Olav for her outstanding service of Norwegian and Nordic interests during her 27 years of service as the Director of the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. Founded by HM King Haakon the 7th on March 17, 1939 as a reward for services in advancing knowledge of Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwegians and their descendants and their country of residence."

Eric Nelson, the new executive director of the Nordic Heritage Museum adds, "I'd like to personally congratulate Marianne Forssblad on her extensive contributions and accomplishments during her 27 years here at the Museum."

The medal is of silver and bears a crown, with the head of the reigning king in profile and his name and motto on the obverse, and the Cross of St. Olav on the reverse.

The medal is the property of the person on whom it is conferred and is worn suspended from the ribbon of the Order of St. Olav on the left breast.

A special reception by invitation will be held in Marianne Forssblad's honor Tuesday, March 25, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Museum.

The Nordic Heritage Museum, founded in 1980, highlights the contributions of Nordic immigrants and their descendants in the development of the Pacific Northwest, and serves as a cross-cultural bridge among people from the Nordic countries and the United States. It is the only Museum in the country that represents the cultural history of all five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. See you at the Nordic Heritage Museum!

Karen Hansen

Nordic Heritage Museum