Excerpt from Lloyd “Gilly” Croatt Obituary
The Luxembourg American Cultural Society wishes to express our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Lloyd “Gilly” Croatt, a founding member and the first president of the LACS. Below is an excerpt from his obituary, which can be read in full here: Lloyd “Gilly” Croatt Obituary
“After 89 years of laughter, love, and life, Lloyd “Gilly” Croatt passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 31, 2022. Lloyd, the youngest of five children, was born in the front room of the family home in Belgium, Wisconsin to Alfred Nicholas and Anna Schmit Croatt…
…A lover of all things Luxembourgish, Lloyd returned to his native land eleven times, hosting tour groups there multiple times. In his later years he proudly established Luxembourg citizenship. He was a native speaker of Luxembourgoise, an unwritten language not changed since the 1850’s when his ancestors came to America, and he starred in a Luxembourgish produced documentary about the lost language of the country. He had no word for anything invented from the 1850’s onwards: cars, computers, even the radio!
Lloyd was a founding member of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society, becoming its first president, and ushered in the building of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center in his hometown of Belgium, Wisconsin (confusing, we know!). It was his most proud accomplishment. He loved nothing more than kibitzing with Luxembourgers, and their American descendants, checking for any familial connections, of which quite often there were…
…A Celebration of Life will be held this late fall/early winter in New Smyrna Beach, Florida at Our Lady Star of the Sea parish. A second Celebration and burial will be held in Belgium, Wisconsin in August of next year during the weekend of Luxembourg Fest. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Luxembourg American Cultural Society Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 157, Belgium, WI 53004. For more information on Gilly Croatt’s illustrious life, please email Michael Croatt at michael@mp2productions.com.”
Hear Lloyd tell stories in the Voices From the Village historic audio tour, accessible from anywhere! For the tour, click here: www.lacs.lu/voices-from-the-village
Visit the LACS Donate webpage to make a donation in memory of Lloyd: www.lacs.lu/donate
Dual Citizenship Update
Article 89 Update:
Reminder that those applying through Article 89 must present their packet in Luxembourg by December 30, 2022. Contact Citizenship Advocate, Rosie Geib to schedule your Stage 2 call four months before your travel date.
Many people are presenting their packet this year, so please be aware the Stage 2 call schedule fills up quickly!
Email Rosie at rgeib@lacs.lu or call her direct line at 262-285-5061.
Article 7 Update:
We have been receiving nationality certificates related to paperwork submitted at the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 for individuals who qualify for Article 7. Unless you have been notified, your paperwork has not yet been received. The LACS contacts members within 24 hours of receiving Stage 1 notifications or Certificates of Nationality from Luxembourg.
Dual Citizenship Update
Article 89 Update:
Reminder that those applying through Article 89 must present their packet in Luxembourg by December 30, 2022. Contact Citizenship Advocate, Rosie Geib to schedule your Stage 2 call four months before your travel date.
rgeib@lacs.lu
262-285-5061
Article 7 Update:
We have been receiving nationality certificates related to paperwork submitted at the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 for individuals who qualify for Article 7. Unless you have been notified, your paperwork has not yet been received. The LACS contacts members within 24 hours of receiving Stage 1 notifications or Certificates of Nationality from Luxembourg.
Luxembourg Travel Update
Great news! As of June 28th, 2021, U.S. residents will be again allowed to enter the country of Luxembourg. Those using Article 89 for Dual Citizenship can start planning their travel following the guidelines detailed. Click the link below for those important details.
Dual Citizenship Update
If you submitted paperwork in 2018 through Article 7 and have not received notice, please contact Rosie Geib by emailing rgeib@lacs.lu
Article 7 Update:
We have been receiving nationality certificates related to paperwork submitted in March through June of 2019 for individuals who qualify for Article 7. Unless you have been notified, your paperwork has not yet been received. The LACS contacts members within 24 hours of receiving Stage 1 notifications or Certificates of Nationality from Luxembourg.
Dual Citizenship Update
ARTICLE 7 UPDATE:
We have been receiving nationality certificates related to paperwork submitted in January/February 2019 for individuals who qualify for article 7. Unless you have been notified, your paperwork has not yet been received. The LACS contacts members within 24 hours of receiving Stage 1 notifications or Certificates of Nationality from Luxembourg. If you submitted paperwork in 2018 and have not received notice, please contact Rosie Geib by emailing rgeib@lacs.lu
ARTICLE 89 UPDATE:
Some of you may have seen an announcement made by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union, on April 26, 2021 stating that vaccinated U.S. travelers will be able to visit Europe again starting this summer. While this is exciting news to hear, there are a few key unknowns, including: – Specific Dates: We do not know yet when exactly travel will open. – Country-specific rules: Each individual country is allowed to set stricter rules than the European block as a whole. We do not yet know Luxembourg’s decisions on travel. – New Travel Protocol/Proof of vaccination: While all three of the U.S.-approved vaccinations (Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna) will be acceptable for travel, it is not yet known how travelers will prove they have received them (vaccination passports, certificates, etc.). This said, please know we will remain in constant contact with Luxembourg travel authorities and will keep our members in the loop on any updates. Thank you for your patience!