(CS) Politicians, diplomats, business representatives and members of the American community in Luxembourg turned out to celebrate Independence Day at a special event hosted by the US Embassy to Luxembourg on Wednesday.

Some 500 guests crowded the Cercle Cité on Place d'Armes sipping Crémant and American beer, enjoying a culinary mix of cultures with bite-sized burgers and brownies served alongside canapés and patisserie.

From Luxembourg City's mayor Xavier Bettel to star chef Léa Linster, the guest list also included political dignitaries such as Jacques Santer and Luxembourg's council ministers Luc Frieden, Etienne Schneider, Claude Wiseler and Nicolas Schmit.

Thanking Luxembourg for its “hospitality and kindness”

It was the first time that US Ambassador Robert Mandell celebrated the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Luxembourg, saying that it was the right occasion to “mention how grateful we are for the warm welcome, hospitality and kindness the people of Luxembourg have shown and continue to show us.”

Special guest Melquiades Martinez, a former Florida senator, had travelled to the Grand Duchy to join his friend Ambassador Mandell for the special day. Martinez said that he hoped the friendship between the two countries, highlighted by the singing of both national anthems and “forged through the sacrifice and suffering of so many,” would continue to last.

And while there were no parades and fireworks to mark the 236th birthday of the US, Blues band Sneaky Pete got their groove on for members of the Luxembourg parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, Luxembourg Police Director Romain Nettgen, Army General Gaston Reinig, Maréchal de la Cour Pierre Mores, and many more.