REMSEN – To celebrate the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s “National Day” on June 23, the Luxembourg Heritage Society of Northwest Iowa placed Luxembourg flags on the graves of 28 original settlers. These were among the initial group of 38 Luxembourgers who traveled by ox-drawn wagons from St. Donatus, Iowa in May 1870 to settle near Alton, Iowa.
Over the years, most of the settlers remained in northwest Iowa, raising families and building a solid economic foundation. At their deaths, they were buried in area cemeteries including St. Mary’s Cemetery, Alton; St, Joseph’s Cemetery, Granville; St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Hospers; Calvary Cemetery, Le Mars; Holy Name Cemetery, Marcus; and St. Mary’s Cemetery, Remsen. Some of the immigrants later moved on and are buried as far away as California and Oregon.
National Day in Luxembourg is similar to Independence Day in the United States, with community-wide celebrations. However, the history of Luxembourg began about 963 A.D., and the country’s story is complicated. Rather than celebrating independence from one of the several countries who ruled the Grand Duchy, since the end of the 18th century it has been traditional to celebrate the reigning monarch’s birthday.
In 1961, June 23 was chosen as the recurring date of the celebration, even though the Grand Duke’s actual birthday may be on a different day. Current Grand Duke Guillaume was born November 11, 1981.
Over the years, National Day has developed into Luxembourg’s largest celebration.
The two-day festival kicks off on June 22 with a torchlight procession, fireworks, concerts and parties, and progresses with a 21-gun salute, a military parade, and a solemn religious service at Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City on June 23.
The original immigrants who were honored with flags placed at their burial places on June 23 include: St. Mary’s, Alton: Biever, Michael; Biever, Magdalena Harens; Frantzen, Peter; Frantzen, Henry; Hansen, Peter; Hansen, John; Kellen, Susan Hansen: Kellen, Math: Konz, Mathias; Konz Susanna Hess; Konz, Peter: Hansen, Susanne Konz; Konz (Kontz) John Peter; Wagner, Peter; Wagner, Mary Ludowissi.
St. Joseph’s, Granville: Konz, John P.; Konz, Nicholas; Ney, Peter; Neuroth, Theresia (Wagner).
St. Anthony’s, Hospers: Harens, Mathias; Remacle, Henry J.
Calvary, Le Mars: Hansen, Franz; Hansen, Margaret (Streng) Engeldinger, Catherine (Hansen); St. John, Margaret (Konz) and husband John St. John; Nemmers, Nicholas.
St. Mary’s, Remsen: Arens, Franz.