Selected Events 2007

The color guard by the U.S. Marine Corps

July 3, 2007
Over 500 guests attended Leipzig’s Independence Day reception on the Consulate grounds in the late afternoon of July 3. After the colors were displayed by U.S. Marines and American soprano and Weimar resident Wendy Waller sang the national anthem, guests also celebrated the Consulate’s 15 year anniversary by listening to short testimonials from six partners of the consulate describing briefly their cooperation with the United States. They reflected the professional and geographic diversity of consulate programs. The guest speakers were Markus Ulbig, Lord Mayor of Pirna (CDU) representing the Consulate's engagement with communities, Eberhard Brecht, Mayor of Quedlinburg, as a representative of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) experience, Ramon Miller, Sister-City Committee Gera-Fort Wayne, as a representative of sister city activities/cooperation with an opportunity to mention the America Day at the BUGA, Dr. Birgit Dippe, Europa-Bibliothek Görlitz to speak about cooperation with the IRC (i.e. America@yourlibrary/book donations), Marco Braungarten as a representative for the Consulate's school outreach encompassing the Eastern German Teacher's Program, Meet US, and possibly even Battle of the Books, and Prof. Dr. Holger Kersten, Magdeburg University, to represent cooperation with universities, including Fulbright series.
Also in attendance for the anniversary were two former Leipzig Consuls General: Todd Becker, who officially opened the Consulate in June, 1992 and served here from 1990 to 1993, and Patrick Truhn, who served 1996-1999.
Among the prominent guests were Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schipanski, President of the Thuringian Parliament, Dr. Birgit Klaubert, Vice President of the Thuringian Parliament, Ms. Dagmar Szabados, Lord Mayor of Halle/Saale, Mr. Andreas Müller, First Deputy Mayor, City of Leipzig, State Secretary Dr. Renate Meier, Head of Thuringia's State Representation to the Federal Government, Berlin, State Secretary Detlef Schubert, Ministry of Economics, Saxony-Anhalt. Also in attendence were many Lord Mayors, Mayors, County Executives and City Council Members.
Despite some passing showery weather, predicted by MDR’s weather reporter Michaela Koschak during an afternoon broadcast from the consulate grounds, the enthusiasm was in no way dampened, with many visitors staying until early evening to network with other guests and enjoy the music of a U.S. Army Dixieland band from Heidelberg.