Utøya heroes who risked lives not invited to ceremony

The first to respond to the Utoya massacre were boaters, fishermen and others near the island, who arrived long before police and were responsible for saving many lives.  Like the 9-11 first responders, they were not invited to the upcoming memorial ceremony.  Is this just a case of bad manners, bad planning, or have they been dissed for some other, unknown reason?

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(Dagbladet): Yesterday's national memorial service united Norway in grief after the mass killings 22 July that killed 77 people.

The government arranged memory ceremony in consultation with the parties in Parliament and write on their website that all affected by. 22. July "invited" to the event.

The official Norway were invited, as were police, fire and health professionals. In addition, the "other contributors in relief efforts during and after the attacks, including from Utvika Camping and Sundvolden Hotel" are invited.

The last category was at best incomplete. Dagbladet has been in contact with several volunteers who were never invited to the event, despite the fact that they risked their lives to save Utøya-adolescents, long before the police arrived at the site.

- I wish I was there

Frank Frøshaug was one of the heroes 22 July, he was out in the boat long before the police arrived at the scene and were fired upon. He was also in countries Utøya before Anders Behring Breivik was arrested, to see if any of the youths who were on the beach was alive so he could save them.

But he was not invited to the national memorial service, where King Harald and Jens Stoltenberg spoke and some of the leading artists contributed.

- I've talked to some of the other volunteers and none of them have also been invited, said Frøshaug to Dagbladet.

- I do not know if we should be asked or not, if only they would invite police, Red Cross and fire departments and our volunteers.

Frøshaug reacted quickly when he heard shots Elves 22 July. He put the country's 10 year old son, before he went out with a high risk of suicide.

- I must admit that it has been hard for me in the post 22 July, it bothers me personally. There are some mixed feelings, I should not fucking gone out and risked my life while I'm glad I was there.

- If you love to be memory ceremony?

- Absolutely. I think it would be nice to share it with several who were 22 July, says Frøshaug.

Was the Utøya

Felix Jacoby is another of the heroes of 22 July which was not invited to yesterday's memorial service. He says that it is so important to him, but find it strange that the volunteers were not contacted.

Jacoby thief connected a boat at Utvika camp and immediately went out to help when he realized what was happening 22 July.

- I was a walk out by Utøya and picked up one, while it was still shot. I also assisted in running the injured from Utvika to where ambulances were, says Jacoby.

- No time to find all

It was the Culture Ministry who were responsible for yesterday's event. Head of Communications Hanne Gjørtz says that all heroes should have been invited, but they did not have time to track them down.

- By the time we had available, three weeks after we got the assignment, we were dependent on that name was reported to us, says Gjørtz to Dagbladet. She also says that several volunteer contacted the Ministry and got tickets to the event.

- Many of the volunteers have been featured in the media as heroes and visited the National Criminal Investigation for questioning, for example Frøshaug. Should you not contacted the NCIS for a list of volunteers or read in the media to find them?

- It certainly seems like Frøshaug should have been invited, but we have relied on the volunteer should be reported to us.

- It's not about ill will, we wanted to invite as many people as possible who were involved in the volunteer work. It is a pity that we are not caught up all, says Gjørtz.

Some were invited

Frøshaug says that it is strange for him to get in touch to be asked somewhere.

- It is wrong approach, that we need to contact us. it is not our job. I think we have done NOK, says Frøshaug.

One who was invited to yesterday's solemn memorial service was Marcel Gleffe from Germany. He was Utvika camp when it slammed and saved 20 to 30 young people with their heroic efforts.

Gleffe was invited because the Ministry of Culture approached the camp, who passed us. He is very happy.

- It was important for me to be present. It was a kind of conclusion at this time and I think it helps me to move on, says Gleffe to Dagbladet.

They attended the memorial service

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