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Very first by
Candlelight
Brownstown All preparations had been finalized and the executive board,
department heads and members had worked diligently for this annual event on
June 1st and 2nd, 2007. Friday, the halls and tent were filled to near
capacity and Germania Gemütlichkeit was so evident everywhere. Siglinde
Rickert, Co-Chair of our Heritage/Culture Committee, opened our Library and
played videos of Germany so that guests also had a choice of some quite time
and solitude. Children enjoyed the moonwalk provided by the generosity of
long time member, Harry Pankratz; adults and children alike would dance to
the traditional chicken dance." The celebration continued well beyond
midnight.
Then on Saturday as guests continued to pour" in, so did Mother Nature with
her wrath of gusting winds, showers, thunder and lightening that struck the
entire community making it very difficult for travelers coming to our
Festival including our loyal friends from the East Side, the Austrians and
the Carpathia Club. All lights went dim then totally out, but spirits
remained high during the blackout as darkness continued throughout the
night, but our guests stayed and celebrated until nearly midnight. One could
hear chanting of: I don't wanna go home, don't wanna go home; I'm having too
much fun, and this is so romantic!"
Denise Lucas, our decorating expert, had already created a dim and romantic
candlelight atmosphere in the Weinstube, but now we needed to create the
same atmosphere throughout. Emil Schnellbacher, our very active Media
Chairman, made a fast trip to a local dealer and purchased over 90 votives.
Soon all the premises were aglow" with candles everywhere. Greg Mahar,
Deputy Supervisor of Brownstown, made several trips and provided a battery
operated amplifier for the one band and bright lights for the food
concession areas and for the ticket booths so that we were able to continue
to operate. Herb Vogel, one of our longtime loyal members, came back with a
generator for the one band to use in our North Hall. The enthusiastic and
very talented Harmonie band had to set up in semidarkness and then performed
fantastically without amplification. Lisa Hughes and the Natale Emanuel Duo
entertained guests with accordion music under the tent. So what more can one
say: if there is a will there is a way!" The parade of flags, which was
slightly delayed, did take place in semidarkness. The American Anthem was
sung by Norlita Kaul, the German Anthem by Renate Berg; their beautiful
voices echoed through the halls. The Austrian Anthem was sung by non other
than the flamboyant and talented Franz Sinz. Richard Miller, Master of
Ceremonies, introduced Ruth Speer, Pres, who greeted the guests, and
dignitaries who expressed their well wishes were: Greg Mahar the Deputy
Supervisor of Brownstown, Joseph Peterson Mayor Pro Tem of Wyandotte, and
Horst Griesser, President of the Verein der Österreicher whose organization
was represented in great numbers including Elfriede Sopfe, Vice President.
The Carpathia Club was represented by their Kulturgruppe Dancers. The Field
Director of the Downriver Youth Soccer Association, Steve Seward expressed
his appreciation on behalf of his organizations that use the beautifully
groomed Germania soccer fields in the back of the property. Two of his
players, Steven Seward and Aly Kiselis carried the Brownstown and Wyandotte
flags proudly in the ceremony. The last highlight of the evening was the
lively performance by the Carpathia Kulturgruppe Dancers under the superb
direction of Jennifer Blasius. This group danced enthusiastically in our
North Hall under dim lighting. All onlookers enjoyed their performance
immensely, Nochmals, vielen Dank Carpathia!"
Knowing that we have weathered the storm successfully, we are already
looking ahead to next year and I invite all of you readers to come, same
days, and same place, but perhaps not under the same circumstances depending
on Mother Nature.
Germania Club Downriver Detroit will be ready, Rain or Shine.
Ruth Speer |
