Members of the Swedish Colonial Society met with the Marching Band Göta Lejon at Governor Printz Park, July 2, 2026

On May 9 we received an email from Niclas Nygren, chairman of Göta Lejon, The Youth Marching Band of Gothenburg, Sweden. He was writing to let us know the band would be in the Philadelphia area to compete in the WAMSB national marching band competition at West Chester University and also to march proudly in the Independence Day parade in Philadelphia on July 3rd. While researching New Sweden, he had learned about the Swedish Colonial Society and wanted to commend our work. We wrote back to invite him and the band to visit us in Tinicum. Soon after, Niclas wrote us back to say the band would indeed visit us on their day for sightseeing, July 2nd, at around 9 AM. They would first visit us, then the American Swedish Historical Museum (ASHM) after that. There would be nearly 90 of them, in two motor coaches. The Band is composed of young people between the ages of 10 and 20, so we were filled with anticipation.

When the day came, it was very hot, but the motor coaches arrived on time. There were six of us at the Farmstead to meet them: John Tepe, Bill Moller, Ingrid Rosenback, Julie Wunsch, Tim Swallow, and myself with my dog, Meko. Unfortunately Governor Kim-Eric Williams was recovering from cataract surgery and couldn’t join us. As the band members gathered themselves at the buses, Niclas came over to tell us the band would march into Governor Printz Park in partial colors, if the two honorary Governors–myself and John–would receive them near the Printz statue. We did so and I must say I was stunned by the band’s slow and deliberate procession into the Park up to where we waited for them–I hadn’t expected this! They marched to the stately rhythm of their drums and at the end their head majorette spoke a message of welcome followed by a brief fanfare by the two trumpeters. The rest of them were in ordinary clothing but all were in formation. It was wonderful!

John and I did our best to welcome them and tell them about the Park. Then they took photos at the Printz statue and after that we adjourned to the Farmstead where everyone took one of the bottles of cold water Bill Moller had thoughtfully brought. All of the cabins were open and the band members and the 6 or 7 adults were able to walk about and see the sights. Several of them had questions, so we spent the next half hour or so speaking with them. What extraordinarily nice people, young and older! They were delightful. Niclas and I exchanged gifts: among them he gave us a handsome framed photo of the Band and in return I gave him our New Sweden photography book and several issues of the SCS Journal.

Finally, they had to leave for ASHM, but we did manage to take a photo of the group on the porch of the Lazaretto for the complete Tinicum experience. The following day the city unfortunately had to cancel the parade because of the heat, but we will always have the memory of their parade at Governor Printz Park to treasure. We heartily thank you, Göta Lejon!