Field Dispatch: National Day by the Mountain

Report from yesterday: National Day opening at Siknäsfortet turned out just as one hopes — many visitors, a warm atmosphere, and a mountain that for once did not need to keep quiet.

There were hot dogs, air-rifle shooting, and together with FRO the radio traffic stayed busy. Contacts reached across Europe — and all the way to Japan. Not bad for a place where signals once preferred to be short, clear, and without an audience.

I stood there and saw the Swedish flag above the pines, FRO's tent in place, and visitors who stopped, asked, listened, and smiled. Such things are worth noting.

Many thanks to everyone who came and made National Day memorable. The fortress was built for readiness, but yesterday it was filled with curiosity, community, and summer warmth.

That is the better kind of alarm.

See you soon by the mountain. 🤩🇸🇪