King And Queen Of Norway
Honored The Norwegian
Christian Home And Health
Center With Official Visit

BROOKLYN, New York – Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway paid an official visit to the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center in Brooklyn on October 14. The event was covered in U.S. media and reported on Norwegian television and in the newspapers of their home country.
The royal couple was greeted by board chairman George Jensen and executive director Mike Doherty. Upon their arrival they were presented with flowers by Amanda and Jonathan Berntsen, 8-year-old twin grandchildren of Mr. Jensen. The King and Queen spent more than an hour and a half meeting directors of the Center, staff members and residents. They were formally received by members of the board of directors in the chapel, followed by a personal meeting with two residents of the Center originally from Norway, each of whom is more than 100 years old.
The “main event” was an assembly for about 200 persons in the dining room of the facility. Everyone sang the national anthems of Norway and the U.S.A., the King gave an enthusiastically received speech (in English), and there was a brief musical program climaxed by everyone joining in the singing of “Can You Forget Old Norway?”
Dr. Paul Qualben, a staff member and member of the board, presented stethoscopes to the royal couple and declared that they are now honorary members of the medical department in recognition of the way their visit relieved so many aches and pains of the residents and made everyone feel much better.
The final event was a tour of the newest facility at the center, a skilled nursing wing that will be formally dedicated on November 24. Board chairman Jensen said the King and Queen expressed their approval and best wishes for all the good works of the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center.
It was a visit that will live long in the memories of everyone connected with the facility. And it was especially uplifting for residents who came to this country from Norway and still retain a strong attachment to that beautiful land.

For more information, please contact either Helen Jason at GOLD & Associates at (904) 285-5669 or helen@strikegold.com or Keith Gold at (904) 285-5669 or gold@strikegold.com.