by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
As the world mourns the tragic events in Utoya and Oslo, Norway, this past Friday, Holland & Knight Partner George Gabel is offering the citizens of Jacksonville the opportunity to express their condolences to the victims’ families and the people of the Scandinavian nation.
Anyone who wishes to participate may visit Holland & Knight until 3 p.m. today and sign a book Gabel, who is the Honorary Norwegian Consul for North Florida, will send to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo to be delivered to the royal family.
Gabel said there is a significant Norwegian presence in North Florida, including a local Sons of Norway club and the more than 100 vessels of Norwegian registry that call on Jacksonville’s port each year.
He said the tragedy has made him realize the reach of the global community.
“I have a close friend who’s an attorney in Norway. I’ve talked to him and he told me the man who is in custody grew up in his neighborhood and even went to school with one of his children,” said Gabel.
Holland & Knight is on the 39th floor of the Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St.
356-2466