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HM Queen Silvia Visits Swedish Covenant Hospital
CHICAGO, IL (October 26, 2001) - A group of more than a hundred well-wishers, including a dozen young children waving Swedish flags, greeted Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden upon her arrival at Swedish Covenant Hospital today.
The queen was invited to tour the hospital facilities by CEO Mark Newton and Board Chair Larry Anderson once it was learned that the queen was scheduled to be in Chicago this week. She was presented a bouquet of flowers by Emily Rueping. Emily is the daughter of Janis Anderson Rueping, a North Park University graduate and vice president of quality and risk management at the hospital. Rueping's family traces its ancestry to northern Sweden.
In his welcoming remarks, Newton recalled the founding of the 115-year-old Swedish Covenant Hospital by Swedish immigrants in 1886. One of the few independent, nonprofit hospitals in the Chicago area, it is said to serve one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in America.
"Over the years, many changes have occurred," Newton observed, "but our mission remains the same: commitment to caring for our patients as whole persons in their uniqueness, with an atmosphere of professional excellence and human kindness."
Dr. Glenn R. Palmberg, in welcoming the queen on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church, also recalled the important role Swedish immigrants played in founding of the denomination, which today includes more than 700 churches and 130,000 attendees on a given Sunday in North America.
"Our roots are in Sweden," Palmberg said, noting that many today consider themselves Swedish-Americans and return often to Sweden for visits. Palmberg's father's parents both were born in Sweden. Mrs. Palmberg's father also was born in Sweden, as were her mother's parents. (The accompanying photo shows the queen with Newton at left and Palmberg to the right.)
HM Queen Silvia made no formal remarks, but greeted a dozen youngsters from the Child Care Center who were on hand to meet her.
After extending a greeting of "Välkommen till Chicago," the children entertained the queen with a verse of "You Are My Sunshine."
Several of the children stepped forward to tell the queen their names, to which the queen replied, "Do you know my name? My name is Silvia. It is very nice to meet you."
The queen was given a brief tour of certain areas of the hospital, including the birthing center. She expressed interest in a number of areas, including the hospital's tradition of nursing and services for children. She is well-known for taking a personal interest in pediatric care. "She also was impressed with the number of Swedish names on the hospital donor board," Newton and Palmberg noted.
Retired Covenant pastor David Sandquist, now residing at Covenant Home in Chicago, also was on hand to greet the queen. Sandquist's father came from Sweden. Asked how he felt after the queen shook his hand, he could only reply "awesome!"
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