American and Swedish Sister city mayors meet

Sister city designations often make for great bragging rights, but not much more. This week the designation actually held meaning. Wilmington, Delaware Mayor Dennis Williams hosted a delegation from sister city Kalmar, Sweden, including Mayor Johan Persson.Williams said a delegation from Wilmington will be visiting Kalmar in June. Wilmington and Kalmar have had a sister city partnership for 50 years now.

The events are part of the 375th anniversary of the Swede's settlement of the New Sweden Colony,  Delaware's first European settlement.

Honoring New Sweden

Swedish ethnicity doesn't get much attention in the American press. That's about to change this week as the Delaware Valley rolls out the carpet for royalty, to honor the 375th anniversary of the New Sweden colony. The colony was Delaware’s first permanent European settlement, settled by both Swedes and Finns, who arrived on the Kalmar Nyckel merchant ship.

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will attend Saturday's "Making It in America" symposium at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. Also in attendance will be Finland’s Speaker of the Parliament Eero Heinäluoma, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Events are also scheduled in Wilmington, Delaware, featuring music and ethnic Swedish foods. The highlight of the celebration will be a replica of the Kalmar Nickel ship sailing through Wilmington for a public viewing, continuing on it's way to carry dignitaries for further events at the Fort Christina National Historic Landmark.