Matt Mattson, Citizen of Spain

I had the privilege of accompanying Matti Mattson to the Spanish Consulate last Wednesday, August 26.  You might have seen the article in the Times on Thursday:  Matti is the 92 year-old Lincoln Brigade veteran who is taking up the Spanish government on its offer of citizenship to veterans of the International Brigades. I've put together a five minute video reportage/tribute, which can be viewed on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpSzMNFOWzU (I recommend clicking on the "HQ" (high quality) icon.) Thanks to all who commented on a previous cut.

The great Matti Mattison, one of the few surviving veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the New York area, will be accepting Spanish citizenship on August 26, 2009 at the Spanish consulate here in New York.

I hope to attend the ceremony and, with the permission of Matti and the consular officials, videotape the proceedings.

The relatively new "Ley de memoria histórica" offers Spanish citizenship to all veterans of the international brigades.  Previously, brigadistas had been offered Spanish citizenship but only if they were willing to renounce their other nationality.  For folks in the eighties and nineties -depending on pensions, insurance, social security, etc.-- that was an almost impossible proposition.

I know that Lincoln vet Clarence Kailin of Madison, Wisconsin, recently availed himself of the new law, and became a Spanish citizen.