Ukrainian children welcome on 17. mai

Ukrainian flags will be waved in solidarity

Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB
This year, Ukrainian refugee children will be welcomed in May 17 children’s parades around the country.

NTB

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he admired the Norwegian national day celebration with children’s parades when he spoke to the Storting on March 30. He pointed out that Ukrainian children will also be part of the celebration this year.

“It’s obvious that you cannot be a father or grandfather without being touched by it,” said Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “I sat and thought that my grandchildren, who will be in the 17th of May parade, will probably walk alongside Ukrainian children. They will do so with an outstretched hand,” he said.

He then added that there will also be Russian children in the children’s parade.

“It is important that we oppose the signs that we see that Russians in Norway are made out to be co-responsible for what Russian leadership is doing. They have no co-responsibility for that. May 17 is the day when we celebrate our freedom and our democracy, and we will take good care of the people who are in Norway,” he said.

Former Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg also believes that the Ukraine war will make its mark on what will be the first proper May 17 celebration after the pandemic.

“Because it is about basic values such as freedom and peace and receiving people who have come. I think we’ll see Ukrainian flags and that it will be an important theme at our May 17th celebration,” she said.

This article originally appeared in the May 6, 2022, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.