One of the most unusual mementos from the past on display at the Freeborn County Historical Museum is a uniform jacket from Den Kongelige Livegarde (The Royal Life Guards) of the Danish Army.

The local connection for this dark blue jacket from a Danish Army unit is based on a former Albert Lea resident named George Nyberg. About 110 years ago he was a member of one of Europe’s most elite military units.

Nyberg was born on a small farm near Sindall, Denmark, on Feb. 24, 1873. He left Denmark at the age of 17 because the home farm was reportedly too small and migrated to the U.S. Nyberg then worked as a farm hand in either Minnesota or Wisconsin for five or six years.

In 1896 or 1897, he returned to Denmark. He was still a citizen of this nation and at the age of 23 was still very eligible for compulsory military service, according to Danish law. Thus, he became a member of the Royal Danish Army for two years.

After basic training, Nyberg was assigned to Denmark’s top regiment. He was given five months of special training, followed by 17 months service in the “spit and polish” royal guards unit of 280 soldiers.

This unit still serves as the permanent guards at Amelienborg Palace, home of the Danish royal family, plus assigned duties at other palaces in and around Copenhagen. The Royal Life Guards conduct ceremonial changings of the guard and many of their public appearances are similar to those of the royal units of the British Army in London.

One of the similarities between this Danish unit and the British palace guards can be seen with the large bearskin headgear.

When Nyberg completed his military service, he very likely had to turn in the bearskin headgear with its emblem of the golden sun and Danish Royal Coat of Arms. However, he did bring his guard’s jacket and a framed photo of himself in full uniform taken by a Danish photographer when he returned to the U.S. in 1918. (This photo is also a part of the immigration exhibit on the main floor of the Freeborn County Historical Museum.)

On his second migration to the U.S., Nyberg came to Albert Lea where he farmed for a few years. This was followed by a partnership with a farmer in the Alden area for 15 years. Then Nyberg moved to a farm near Albert Lea where he lived until retiring and moving into the city.

This former member of the Danish royal guard regiment died on Feb. 21, 1961, and is buried at Graceland Cemetery.