Municipal Medal of Honor for Roberta Enschede
On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, Mrs. Roberta Enschede received the Municipal Commemorative Medal from Mayor Leendert de Lange. The presentation took place during “Dutch American Friendship Day” at De Paauw Town Hall in Wassenaar, an event that Enschede herself helped initiate. Mayor De Lange: “It is my great honor to present the Municipal Commemorative Medal to Mrs. Roberta Enschede.”
The driving force behind connection
Roberta Enschede, born in Chicago and a resident of Wassenaar since 1980, has been dedicated to strengthening ties between the Netherlands and the United States for decades. As the founder of the Overseas Americans Remember Foundation and the driving force behind numerous annual commemorations and celebrations—including Dutch-American Friendship Day, the May 4 commemoration on Schouwweg, the 9/11 commemoration, and the Thanksgiving service at the Pieterskerk in Leiden—she has made an indispensable contribution to the community. In addition, she taught students at the American School of The Hague for many years and played a prominent role as chair of the American Democratic Party in the Netherlands.
A bridge-builder between two countries
The municipal medal is awarded by the municipality of Wassenaar to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the local community. By awarding the medal to Ms. Enschede, the municipality recognizes her decades of dedication as a bridge-builder between two countries, two cultures, and countless people.
Mayor De Lange: "Roberta brings people together with boundless enthusiasm and a warm heart. Young and old, Dutch and Americans, diplomats and students—everyone is welcome in her presence. Wassenaar is grateful to her for all she has done and continues to do for our community."
