Newsletter 13 April 2010 President`s trip to the USA
Dear members and friends,
back again !!!
Still for some time, but there wasn`t enough time to publish a Newsletter up to now because a huge amount of work was waiting, and we had to go over the many pictures, some will be seen in our website.
The trip was a success at all points, we saw much. Starting in NYC, the “Big Apple” going from there with our rental car to Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers had their first flight, then to Charleston and other places at the Atlantic coast, to Daytona Beach – of course going with the car to the beach! – and to Cape Caneveral – what an experience, great.
Nearby in Indian Harbour Beach we visited Petra`s aunt and her husband Phil. There we stayed for some days feeling home in a way saying “good bye” made a real hard thing. We had good conversations, and especially Phil was most interested in the Count´s story, later on Phillip Thomas applied for membership - Phil, welcome again to our society, great to have you in!
We made our trip to the very South of Florida. There among others the Southernmost Point of the Continental USA and the Little White House is to be seen, a place used by several Presidents, first of all Harry S. Truman in the 40's.
Florida is known for its alligators in the Everglades, believe it or not, we saw a lot!
Nearby we visited another member of our society, Ms. Irmgard Bahr, in 1945 working for the Timberwolves as a translator in Halle. Thank you and her husband for the great time and for the good food with the Mexican Restaurant.
We made our way to the Mississippi, visiting among others New Orleans and Baton Rouge – there another White House is to be seen. Then back to the North. A flat tire in Canada had to be “mastered”, then we saw the Niagara Falls being impressed of mother nature. In Beacon, NY, we visited John Fasulo, a very early member of our society, and his family. Thank you so much for the very warm welcome and the hospitality. We think too, one day was not enough!
John`s grandfather emigrated from Germany as a young man, and on February 3rd, 1930 he met the Count listening to one of his lectures at Old Beacon High School and getting an autograph at a “Seeadler”-picture. By the way, on the same day in 2006, Blaine Pardoe, had a lecture at the same place about his researches on von Luckner. Now I felt honored standing on the stage, Felix Count von Luckner used long time ago.
John Fasulo at the end is a friend of the American folk legend Pete Seeger, arranged that we could meet him, unbelievable!
Thanks to all we met and who helped and accomodated us, the warm contact to wonderful people was like a good sign for us being on the right way with our society following a good aim – international understanding.
Having about 5,800 miles behind us, we saw the skyline of Manhattan again, had a safe trip home, knowing that we will return one time.
Best regards from the Count-von-Luckner-City Halle
