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The
honorary degree presentation ceremony at Georgetown University
As
if to round up the year of celebrations of her 60th birthday in
gand style, Her majesty the Queen brougth Thai arts and crafts
to Tokyo, and from there to Washington,D.C., San Francisco and
Vienna, for all the world to see .
The
exhibitions showed not only Thai craftsmanship and cultural
treasures, but Her Majesty's lifetime commitment to the well-begin
of Thai vilagers.
During
her visit to Japan on April 7-20, Her Majesty was welcomed by
Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko,
who gave a private lunch in her honor at Akasaka Imperial Palace.
Empress
Michiko, together with Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess
Kiko, also accompanied the Queen at the opening of an exhibition
of Thai handicrafts produced under the auspices of the
Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupation a nd
Related Techniques (SUPPORT), at Takashimaya Department Store.
Her Majesty
the Queen during visiting the villagers in remote areas
Her
Majesty, accompanied by Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, also
visited places of interest in Kyoto, the ancient capital of
Japan. Special shows on Thai contumes and the development of
Thai fashion, entitled "Naree Ruang Nam -- Famous Thai
Women in History",was presented at functions in both Tokyo
and Kyoto.
The
royal trip to Japan was followed by visits to the United States
and Austria from May 11 to June 7. In Washington, D.C., Her
Majesty was honored at a historic degree conferring ceremony at
Georgetown University, which granted her an honorary doc torate
degree in Humane Letters.
Georgetown
University, the almamater of U.S.President Bill Clinton, has the
largest law school and the oldest schools of foreign service and
language and finguistics in the United States. Located right at
the heart of the American capital, it often invites
personalities of international fame as guest lecturers,
including Henry Kissinger, Jean Kirkpatrick and Madelaine
Albright.
In
an invocation, Reverend Francis Winters, associate professor at
the School of Foreign Service, said that "Her Majesty Queen
Sirikit's achievement should enlighten students and teachers of
the art of government". He asked God to "teach the
ways of wisdom neglected in the classic texts of power, "and
to awaken awareness that to rule wisely is to serve, a path
already travelled by the Queen of Thailand.
The
president of Georgetown University, Rev. Leo O'Donovan, remarked
that an honorary degree signifies what the university as an
institution can learn from the person it bestows the honor. The
degree, he said, "is awarded in recognition of the c
ommitment and energy brought to bear in a particular cause of
distinguished achievements and leadership and humanitarian
outreach".
In
honoring Her Majesty the Queen, headded, "the people
involved seek to learn how in their own lives they can offer
themselves to the welfare of those less fortunate that them"
in their community, country and the world
Her
majesty Queen Sirikit, hesaid, had taught them through her life's
work that true compassion must include action. He observed that
Her Majesty's commitment to her people and her tireless efforts
on their behalk turly illustrate the words on the wall of the
university's Gaston Hall. The words,written in Latin, mean
"for the greater glory of God and the salvation and welfare
of mankind".
In
her acceptance speech, her Majesty cited the special bond of
friendship hope that existed between Thailand and the United
States and expressed hope that the relationship will be even
more strengthened in the future. Her work for the people, she
said, would continue, especially in the field of environmental
conservation.
Her
Majesty recalled the first visit to the rural areas of Thailand
more than 40 years ago in the company of His Majesty the King.
Their resolve to improve the conditions of the people, she said,
have succeeded to a considerable extent, but "the wo rk has
to be carried on" even though Thailand has become
sunccessful in its economic growth and conditions are better.
 The
Thai national heritage from the tireless efforts of Her Majesty
the Queen
"Economic
success in the towns is likely to discourage agricultural
production," Her Majesty noted, "and Thailand's
farmers must be given encouragement so that Thailand may remain
a food producing country."
The
degree citation also noted Her Majesty's work to improve the
health and economic well-being of her people, especially those
living in rural areas. The directior of the University medical
Center and dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Jhon Griff ith,
referred to the most urgent of the needs in the remote areas of
Thailand, health care, are how Her Majesty created medical and
dentistry units staffed by volunteer doctors and dentists to
provide care for villagers the King and Queen visit.
Dr.
Griffith also mentioned how Her Majesty founded the Village
Doctors Program to train local volunteers to administer basic
medical care and advice, and cited her role in improving the
livelihood of the poor and her establishment of the SUPPORT F
oundation.
Following
her trip to Washington, D.C., Her Majesty traveled to California
to receive another award from Stanford University in San
Francisco. The "Woman of the Year" award was given to
the Queen by the university's Institute for Research on Women
and Gender.
Established
in 1974, the institute is one of the first of its kind in the
United States. It has fostered and disseminated
interdisciplinary research into the causes and consequences of
changing gender roles for the ultimate goal of securing an egal
itarian scciety. The Woman of the Year Award, of which Her
Majesty was the first to receive, has been established to
recognize women of exceptional achievements.
From
California, Her Majesty the Queen flew for an unofficial visit
to Austria, where a lunch was given in her honor by Austrian
President Thomas Klestil at Hofburg Palace. Together with
Mrs.Klestil, Her Majesty presided over the opening of the exh
ibition, "700 Years of Thailand: Treasures from the Kingdom"
at the Museum of Ethnology. The exhibiton, featuring more than
100 artefacts from the SUPPORT Foundation, is on show until
August 31.
As
they look back to the full and fulfilling year of Her Majesty's
60th birthday celebrations, Thais can only feel proud of their
beloved Queen and her achievements.
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