On Thursday April 14th, 2016, The Scottish Coalition, USA, will present the National Tartan Day Award to Mr. Robert McWilliam as part of         Washington DC's annual celebration of Scottish-American heritage. The reception, hosted by the National Capital Tartan Day Committee, will take place on Capitol Hill.

Robert McWilliam has devoted more than 40 years to supporting and promoting Scottish-American culture, in addition to his military, legal, business and philanthropic careers.

"I am delighted at the unanimous selection of Robert McWilliam for the 2016 Scottish Coalition, USA Award," announced Alan L. Bain, President of the TSC, USA and Chairman of the American-Scottish Foundation, a founding member of the coalition.

"Bob never stops!" added Bain. "He has been tireless in his support of so many Scottish-American causes, and I have worked with him on various boards where his energy and dedication has been boundless."

McWilliam, a long-time resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enlisted in the Army after high school, and saw active duty in 1948 and 1949. He served in the reserves for many years, and was promoted to colonel in 1978.

As he completed his active duty in the Army, McWilliam took his bar exams. From 1957, he practiced law before joining a family-owned start-up company in the automotive and metal casting industries. During his 40 years with the company, he traveled extensively, speaking with engineering societies and presenting research papers at international meetings. At the time of his retirement, the company was providing materials and equipment to industries all over the world.

Scottish American Activities
McWilliam has been involved with the Scottish-American community since the 1970s. He is currently:

- President Emeritus, current Trustee, and one of the founding members of The Scottish Coalition USA;  
                             
- President Emeritus and current Trustee of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA);

- Past President and current Trustee of the Milwaukee St. Andrews Society and recipient of the Society's Founder's Award;

- Past President and current Trustee of the Caledonian Foundation USA;
- a member of the Board of Directors for Scottish Heritage USA;

- and Emeritus Director of the Clan Donald Foundation.

McWilliam was granted a personal coat of Scottish arms by Scotland's Lord Lyon, King of Arms. The grant is unique in that it was not based on ancestry, but "for service to Scotland and Scottish Culture."

He is the originator of the Wisconsin State Tartan, passed by both houses of
Wisconsin State Tartan originated by Robert McWilliam, signed into law in April, 2009.
the state legislature and signed into law by Governor James Doyle on April 7, 2008.

In July of 2009, he was invited by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs to speak in the Debating Chambers of the Scottish Parliament on the occasion of the 2009 International Clan Gathering in Edinburgh.

He was a member of Clan Donald USA's 1993 crew of 13 that rowed and sailed the Aileach - an open decked, 40 foot replica of a Scottish Berlinn ( a short Viking long boat) - from Armadale, Skye; down the west coast of Scotland; through the Inner Hebrides, portaging the Aileach across the Kintyre Isthmus to commemorate Magnus Bare Legs, the King of Norway's 1098 portage; and then up the river Clyde to the center of the city of Glasgow, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles.

Other philanthropic work
In addition to his work with the Scottish-American community, McWilliam has been active with the Boy Scouts of America for a number of years, receiving awards for distinguished service and currently serving as a member of the Advisory Board for the Milwaukee County Council.

He has also been very involved with the Knights Templar. In 2003, His Royal Highness, the Grand Master, Don Francisco de Borbon y Escasany, Duke of Seville bestowed upon him the dignity of Knight of Grace in the Military and Hospital Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.

In 2013, The Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem (The Templars) conferred upon him the dignity of their Knight's Grand Cross for his 20 plus years of service, including a term as Prior of their St. John the Baptist Priory.

Family life
McWilliam and his wife Mary have been married for over 40 years. They enjoy spending time with their seven children and 10 grandchildren, and engaging in sailboat racing, camping, canoeing and downhill skiing.

The National Tartan Day Award
The 2016 National Tartan Day Award has been designed by Keith Lipert Gallery for the TSC USA to reflect the historic story of Tartan Day, held annually on April 6th. With wording from the Senate Resolution that established the holiday, and historic images of Arbroath Cathedral, Robert the Bruce, the Capitol and the Scottish Parliament, the award represents the story of Tartan Day's evolution.

The Scottish Coalition, USA
The Scottish Coalition, USA has been instrumental in setting up a national platform for the observance of Tartan Day in the US, and comprises five national Scottish-American organizations:


For further information, please contact:
Camilla G Hellman or Heather Quist
The Scottish Coalition, USA
t. 212 605 0338   e. [email protected]

How did the United States come to celebrate April 6th as National Tartan Day?
 
Who were the ones who drove this forward, so Scottish Americans could celebrate their heritage each year?

In 1995, the Caledonian Foundation, a local Floridian group of Scottish-Americans, invited national Scottish-American organizations to meet and explore how they all could advance Scottish- American awareness nationwide. It was noted that Canada, with its robust Scottish population of both immigrants and now-natives, already was celebrating a "Tartan Day." So why not have similar in the U.S.?
 
The following year, six national organizations - the American-Scottish Foundation, the Association of Scottish Games & Festivals, the Caledonian Foundation, the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, Scottish Heritage USA, and the Tartan Educational and Cultural Association - got things going. 

Thousands of Scots-Americans found ways to observe "Tartan Day" in churches, on village greens, at Scottish festivals, at social gatherings, and in the home Enthusiastic responses to ads taken out in three national heritage publications -The Highlander, Scottish Life, and Family Tree- endorsed the effort. Scots in America had a common cause. Now it was time to make things official. 
 
On March 20, 1998, Senate Resolution 155 passed. Here is a portion:
 
...."Whereas April 6 has a special significance for all Americans, and especially those Americans of Scottish descent, because the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed on April 6, 1320 and the American Declaration of Independence was modelled on that inspirational document

... Whereas this resolution honors the major role that Scottish Americans played in the founding of this Nation, such as the fact that almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, the Governors in 9 of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry, Scottish Americans successfully helped shape this country in its formative years and guide this Nation through its most troubled times

... Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate designates April 6 of each year as   "National Tartan Day".
 
Cliff Robertson, Grand Marshal,
New York Tartan Day Parade, 1999.
 A year after the U.S. Senate endorsed Tartan Day, America had its first Tartan Day Parade held in New York.
 
It was somewhat modest. Two pipe bands and a small but enthusiastic group of Scottish-Americans marched from the British Consulate in Midtown Manhattan to the headquarters of the United Nations.  It was a start.

With the Senate resolution in place, the Scottish-American community now approached the U.S. House of Representatives. Success again.
 
 
On March 9, 2005, the House echoed its brethren in the Senate, noting all the achievements by Americans of Scottish descent but also noting that one out of every 10 Nobel prizewinners could claim Scottish roots.  

All that was left, was the White House.
 
President George W. Bush did the right thing, as he noted that "Scotland and the United States have long shared ties of family and friendship." On April 4, 2008, he formally denoted a national Tartan Day, each April 6 from here to eternity.
 
Events now take place throughout the United States from New York to San Francisco to Pittsburgh, events large and small.   

And today the small parade up a sidewalk in Manhattan is the largest such celebration of Scottish heritage in the United States.  

The New York Tartan Day Parade now takes place through the center of Manhattan marching up Sixth Avenue, tens of thousands come to watch and cheer on thousands of marchers, clans, pipers and Scottish Americans as they celebrate their heritage and Tartan Day  www.nyctartanweek.org
 
And each year The Scottish Coalition, USA recognizes an individual whose work and dedication has helped in the growing of the national message of Scotland in America.
 
 
THE SCOTTISH COALITION,  USA comprises five national Scottish American organizations:

- The American-Scottish Foundation�
- Scottish Heritage, USA
- The Living Legacy of Scotland, Inc.
- The Association of Scottish Games and Festivals
- Scottish American Military Society

The Scottish Coalition USA:  Alan L. Bain, Chairman, American-Scottish Foundation� is the President of The Scottish Coalition USA.
 
He spearheaded the New York Tartan Day Parade, initiated in 1998, and the Senate Resolution recognizing Tartan Day in 1999.
 
In 2002 The American-Scottish Foundation� partnered in the formation of the
National New York Tartan Day Parade Committee to oversee the Parade's growth and associated events in New York.

The National Capital Tartan Day Committee, Inc. ("NCTDC") is a nonprofit charitable and educational organization, incorporated in 2002 in the District of Columbia.  NCTDC enjoys tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.  It's sole mission is to promote an understanding of, and celebration of, the National Tartan Day holiday (observed on April 6th of each year, by Standing Resolutions of both houses of the U.S. Congress) in and around our Nation's Capital.   

Membership in NCTDC is open to all persons living within a 100-mile radius of Washington, DC who subscribe to the goals and purposes of the organization.  NCTDC is governed by an elected board of directors, drawn from the local DC Metro Area Scottish-American community. 
 
Officers are Kathy Garrity (President); John King Bellassai (Vice President), James Morrison (Secretary), and Clark Scott (Treasurer).   The officers and members of NCTDC volunteer their services each year to plan and staff a variety of Tartan Day events in and around Washington, DC and neighboring Alexandria, VA (both of which were settled by Scots in the mid-18th century).  No one at NCTDC is ever compensated for his or her time devoted to promoting the Tartan Day holiday or convening events to celebrate  www.dctartanday.org

American-Scottish Foundation | 575 Madison Avenue 10th floor | New York | NY | 10022