On October 25, 2018, Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner and his wife Gudrun Faudon-Waldner welcomed more than 500 guests at the Embassy on the occasion of Austria’s National Day.

Ambassador Waldner’s address was followed by a toast by honorary guest Matthew G. Boyse, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian affairs at the U.S. Department of State, who delivered a message from Secretary of State Pompeo and read out President Trump’s letter to his Austrian counterpart:

“Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of the Republic of Austria on the 63rd anniversary of Austria’s National Day, October 26.

At this time in history, sustaining our common Western bond is more important than ever. Our bilateral relationship is strong and enduring; bound to the values underpinning our democracies; and bolstered by our shared priorities of security, freedom, and prosperity. We value Austria’s unwavering friendship and partnership as we work together to resolve global challenges.

Please accept my compliments as you celebrate this important anniversary.

Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP”

The music program, the cultural highlight of the reception, was performed by Chicago-born opera singer Nicole Butler and the Karklina Trio from Graz in the Austrian state of Styria.

Several ambassadors, expats (#AustriansAbroad) and friends of Austria joined the reception, during which various dishes and drinks from Austria were offered.

#ATUS180 #oe100 #eu2018at

All photos (c) Peter Alunans, more on flickr

A great thanks goes to our sponsors, who played a critical role in making this an exceptional event.