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 W omen 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.
