Selected Events 2006

Consul General Mark Scheland and his wife Elizabeth welcome Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung

July 3, 2006
About 500 guests from throughout the Leipzig consular district enjoyed an Independence Day barbeque on the consulate grounds, the first U.S. national day reception conducted in Leipzig since 1999 - after years of rotation through other cities in Leipzig's three states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Following a flag presentation by U.S. Marine Corps from the U.S. Embassy Berlin color guard and a stirring a capella performance of the national anthem by the American bass vocalist James Moellenhoff, Consul General Mark Scheland greeted the guests and described the community spirit and common American experience of neighborhood "Fourth of July" parties in the United States. Saxony State Minister Hermann Winkler spoke of the decades-long American engagement for liberty and democracy in Germany and Europe. Leipzig Lord Mayor Jung illustrated how the Leipzig art, music, commercial and sport scenes were awakening Americans’ fascination with the city. Protocol guests included Thuringia’s deputy minister-president, two state secretaries of the Saxony-Anhalt government, and numerous mayors, city council members, and county executives, many of whom welcomed the Consul General's proposal to dress casually and bring family. Many guests commented how pleasant it was to gather on consulate grounds. The July 4 edition of the regional newspaper "Leipziger Volkszeitung" carried a photo of the Lord Mayor and the Consul General pulling off their neckties alongside the regular “People in Leipzig” column, under the headline "Schlipse ab und locker Liberty gefeiert" (“Ties off! A relaxed celebration of Liberty”).