50th year of our Sister City Stirling Scotland

The importance of our Sister City relationship with Stirling, Scotland

Stirling is a beautiful city, with centuries of tradition and pride.  When the civic leaders of Dunedin decided to form a Sister City relationship with this historic city, the thought was that they were similar sized towns with a shared heritage of Scots settlement.

Over the years, both cities have maintained ties, but the next twelve months are of such historic importance for Stirling, that a year-long series of events and celebrations are being planned.

2014 is our Golden Anniversary as Sister Cities, plus 2014 marks the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn at Stirling the great struggle which led to Scots independence - think of it as like our 4th of July!

Stirling and Dunedin will celebrate both anniversaries with an exchange of museum exhibits in January, many exchanges via written, online and live interactions and a formal reception for a delegation from Dunedin in Stirling. 

The most important occurrence will be sharing the belief that we have more than an ordinary relationship.  We can get to know each other better by an interchange -- of visits both official and for fun, trade and business and energy. 

Both our cities have a heritage of citizen involvement and concern for the places we call home.  Both believe in freedom for all and concern for our children and for our homes.

In future articles, we will be sharing what’s happening in Stirling and Dunedin – beginning with a brief description of the remarkable and state-of-the-are Visitor Center (Centre as our Scots cousins would say) that celebrates the Battle of Bannockburn.  During the course of the year between now and the June 2014 celebration and official reception, folks here in Florida will learn much more about both the history and future of our Sister Cities.

Want to learn more, be a sponsor, become a member of the official delegation, volunteer or find out how else YOU can help?  Please contact the Dunedin Historical Museum at www.dunedinmuseum.org