Greetings from sunny Arizona!  As in the past few years I have again attended the "Eesti Vabariigi Aastapäev"  gathering of local Arizona Estonians in the Phoenix area. For me it is a 400 mile round trip by car even though I also live in the same state of Arizona, but worth going to every year. The annual event took place in Mesa, AZ, this past Sunday, 21 February  at the home of Jim and Linda Abbott, Linda's mother having come from Estonia. Also, this year it was drizzling rain which happens quite infrequent in the desert climate. There was plenty of ethnic foods such as hapukapsa supp, sült  and verivorstid along with desserts like kringel and much, much more. It was a very joyous occasion among folks who come from afar and many who see each other only once a year.

 This year there was a special honor. The Estonian US Ambassador in Washington, DC, Väino Reinart, sent the group a letter of acknowledgment for their support which Estonian immigrants had provided and still are providing for their homeland and in fostering their culture. Following  the singing of the Estonian National Anthem to the accompaniment of Linda Abbot playing the piano, Ambassador Reinart's letter was read aloud to everyone by Marina Rynning. 

Peter Vaga Feldmann