At dome In The World
Bondevik, with bringing about the
first visit by the sitting U.S. president
to Norway.
You have countless friends in
Norway, a testimony to your abun-
dant generosity and boundless passion
you show us all," Lindstrom told
Ambassador Hermelin. "In your life,
you have wanted to do something
rather than to be somebody."
DIANA LIEBERMAN
Winning the Order of Merit came
as a surprise to the ambassador,
StaffWriter
according to his wife, Doreen
Hermelin.
mbassador to Norway
David Hermelin of
"I found out about a month ago,
but we didn't tell my husband until
Bingham Farms received
the day before," she said.
the Royal Norwegian Order
of Merit on Nov. 2, capping a diplo-
- The nominating committee for the
matic career that has been noted for
Order of Merit sped up the process
generosity, sincerity and openness.
when they learned the president
The award, Norway's highest honor
would be in Oslo, Mrs. Hermelin
for non-Norwegians, came at the close
said, so they could give the
of the Oslo summit on Mideast peace.
ambassador the added honor of
President Bill Clinton, Secretary of
receiving the award in front of
him.
State Madeleine Albright and U.S. Rep.
Martin Olav Sabo of Minnesota, joined
The event was "over the top,"
embassy personnel and their families in
she said. "It was an incredible expe-
rience."
witnessing the ceremony, which took
place at the American Embassy.
The award presentation was held
at the end of a grueling day, she
Bjarne Lindstrom, secretary general
of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry,
said. The peace talks, which had
presented the award on behalf of
taken place at the ambassador's resi-
Norway's King Harald.
dence, lasted until about 7:30 p.m.
"In a world where diplomacy is to do
The Hermelins had just started a
and say nasty things in a nice way, you
new guest book but, once Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Barak,
have said the nicest things in the nicest
way," Lindstrom said. Your enthusiasm
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
and boundless energy have brought new
Arafat and President Clinton, and
dimensions to ... diplomacy."
their delegations, had signed their
The Royal Order of Merit is reserved
names, Mrs. Hermelin put the book
for foreign citizens and Norwegian
away for a memento of the occa-
sion.
nationals residing abroad in recognition
of exceptional work to further
"It was a very moving
experience to be at (my)
Norwegian interests, as well as to foreign
front door, to welcome
civil servants for diplomatic and con-
Barak, Arafat and the presi-
sular service. There are three classes to
the Order. The ambassador's honor was
dent," she said.
The award ceremony
in the highest class — the Grand Cross.
itself was the most moving
The award is equivalent to the U.S.
experience in a week filled
Merit of Honor and the U.S. Medal
with bustle and formality.
of Freedom. Earlier honorees include
"The reception from his
General George Marshall and Admiral
Frank Kelso II.
people in the state depart-
ment, when my husband
In Lindstrom's speech, he credited
came out on the stage, was
Ambassador Hermelin, along with
incredible. They gave him the
President Clinton and Norwegian
Prime Minister Kjell Magne
longest ovation you can imag-
ine,?" Mrs. Hermelin said.
At one point in the cere-
Diana Lieberman can be reached at
mony,
she said, her eyes
(248) 354-6060, ext. 247, or by e-mail
filled with tears.
at dlieberm@thejewishnews.com
Ambassador
David Hermelin
is honored with
the Royal Norwegian
Order of Merit.
A
Secretary of State Albright reached
over and squeezed her hand.
"The award ceremony was not even a
once-in-a-lifetime experience," Mrs.
Hermelin said. "It was once in a dream."
David Hermelin, 61, has been
ambassador to Norway since January
1998. A longtime Jewish activist on the
international as well as local Detroit
scene, he has also held board positions
with the Pistons-Palace Foundation,
Children's Hospital of Michigan,
Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit,
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, United
Way and Detroit Institute of Arts.
For the past year, Ambassador
Hermelin has filled his post while
fighting brain cancer. Until recently,
he had been practicing his own brand
of shuttle diplomacy, flying back and
forth from Oslo to Detroit for treat-
ments with Dr. Mark Rosenblum,
chair of Henry Ford Health System's
Department of Neurosurgery.
With the ambassador's involvement
in the Oslo talks, Dr. Rosenblum was
able to arrange for treatment to be
transferred to Oslo. All chemotherapy
testing and other procedures are still
under his direct supervision, Dr.
Rosenblum said. Laboratory results
are e-mailed or faxed to Detroit, he
said, and he tells the Norwegian
doctors how to proceed.
•
"David is doing quite well,"
the neurosurgeon said. "He's
optimistic, as always, and he's
continuing to function as he
did before.
Dr. Rosenblum said it was
an honor to be able to treat
such a giving and gentle per-
son. He was gratified with his
patient's progress.
"People can certainly do better
than one might think, even
with a diagnosis of cancer," he
said. "That's the whole reason for a
physician's work." ❑
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Norway awards Ambassador
David Hermelin its highest civilian
honor for non-Norwegians.
TV
11/12
1999
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