We are very proud to present you with this new edition of The Bavarian News in a new and practical magazine format. The Bavarian News will be published every quarter, with content focusing on helping you better navigate life in your new home-away-from-home in U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria. Whether you are living on or off post, we will have tips and information on the communities surrounding the garrison, including events and festivals, cultural traditions, travel suggestions, and more.
In this issue, we focus on the change of season and what you need to do to get your house ready for the colder months ahead. This is also festival season, from local village fairs to pumpkin fests and the infamous Oktoberfest in Munich, you will find details to keep you busy this fall with events that are sure to impress.
We’ve also had some changes within the command team of the garrison with Col. Stephen C. Flanagan taking over as new USAG Bavaria Garrison Commander.
And we are reporting on our successful German-American Volksfest, which exemplifies the great German-American relationship we have built over the last decades that still flourishes today.
Are you ready to start exploring? We’ll be by your side with a new issue for every season.
Getting your house ready for fall 07
The legacy of Elias Peissner and Lola Montez 08
Garmisch employee serves volunteer time during recent flood event 09
CPT Mark Garner Street honors Hohenfels community member 10
Local national hiring at forefront of Volksfest recruitment efforts
Unbe-leaf-able: Four places to see amazing autumn colors in Germany
Round, orange, good for the soul: German pumpkin fests
Annual Oktoberfest takes over Munich
Sincerely, USAG Bavaria 03 Flanagan takes command of USAG Bavaria
Enjoying community events with your sensitive child
Flanagan takes command of USAG Bavaria
Story by Natalie Simmel USAG Bavaria Public Affairs
Col. Stephen C. Flanagan assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria from Col. Kevin A. Poole during a Change of Command Ceremony, Aug. 6 at the Tower Barracks Parade Field.
The ceremony was attended by numerous guests ranging from local community leaders, tenant unit leadership, the Bundeswehr, garrison staff and community members.
Tommy R. Mize, director, Installation Management Command-Europe, was the first to welcome the new garrison commander.
“Steve [is] the right officer at the right time to assume command of this large and complex garrison. Build upon the foundation laid by Kevin, and to lead it into the future,” said Mize.
In his speech, Poole bid farewell in German and English thanking the garrison team as well as host nation partners for all the support he and his wife enjoyed.
“To the greater community of U.S. Army
Garrison Bavaria, from here in Grafenwoehr and Vilseck to Hohenfels and all the way down to Garmisch, it has been an honor to serve as your garrison commander the past two years,” said Poole. “To team Flanagan, this is going to be a great experience and you are going to take this garrison to even greater heights.”
Acknowledging Poole’s hard work, Flanagan thanked him, his family and the community for the fabulous integration they received.
“Thank you all for the warm welcome, we have experienced nothing but incredible support and friendship since we arrived here in Bavaria,” said Flanagan. “Col. Poole is leaving me huge shoes to fill but I’m comforted by the professionalism, expertise and teamwork I’ve already observed from this Garrison team.”
Closing the ceremony the Black Powder Shooters, from Volsbach, traditionally welcomed the new commander with a ceremonial volley.
Pictures of the event can be viewed at: https://www.flickr.com/ photos/usagbavaria/albums/72177720319352951
A recording of the ceremony can be viewed at: https://www.dvidshub. net/video/932934/usag-bavaria-change-command
Tommy Mize, director, Installation Management Command Europe, hands the garrison colors to Col. Stephen C. Flanagan during a Change of Command Ceremony, Aug. 6. Photo by Kayla Overton
Col. Stephen C. Flanagan provides remarks at the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Change of Command Ceremony, Aug. 6.
Photo by Andreas Kreuzer
Events
Sept 11-23 ........................
Nuremberg Altstadtfest
Sept 12-16 ........................
Weiden Volksfest
Sept 12-29 ......................
Nuremberg Herbstmarkt (Fall fest)
Sept 13-15 ........................
Vilseck Bergfest
Sept 14-15 ......................
Nuremberg Festival of Martial Arts
Sept 18 - Oct 6 ...............
Regensburg Circus Gebrüder Barelli
Sept 21 - Oct 6 .............. Munich Oktoberfest
Sept 22 .............................
Vilseck Fall Fest
Sept 27 ............................
Amberg Michaeli-Dult (Fair)
Sept 28 ............................
Munich (Odeonsplatz)
Ander Art Festival, Music, Art and Culture
Oct 26-27 ...........................
Nuremberg Extrem Bike Messe (Custom bike fair)
Oct 26-28 ........................
Vilseck Burg-Kirwa (Fair at Burg Dagestein)
Photo
Photo
Photo by Master1305/ Shutterstock.com
Getting your house ready for fall
By Michael Joseph Contributing writer to MilitaryInGermany.com
It’s that time of the year again when as a kid, we couldn’t wait to gobble down every last crumb of the delicious spiced pumpkin pie and cinnamon rolls my mom baked. Those were the days! I love the chill in the early morning air and the leaves beginning to change color… fall is here! It’s also a good time to undertake some annual maintenance so you’re saved any pricey repairs when winter approaches.
Clean the gutters
Check the heating system
Now we are in Autumn, winter isn’t too far away either so make sure the heating system is in top shape to get the warmth back into your house. If you don’t have one yet, consider a programmable thermostat which can be set to lower the temperature setting when required and greatly reduce your utility bills. Next, get the furnace inspected by a certified HVAC professional and clean it and get the filter changed. Buy a few filters and replace the furnace with a new filter once in a few weeks.
Window maintenance
Fallen leaves can beautifully carpet your lawn but at the same time clog the gutters and drains. Use a rake or a suitable garden implement to clean the leaves and debris from the gutters. Ice dams tend to form in blocked gutters and drains letting water percolate into the house. And while you’re at it, inspect and clean the downspouts as well. Ensure that the water flows away from your house and if necessary, add extensions to them to divert the flow of water away from the walls.
Inspect the pipes
Pipes that don’t have enough insulation can freeze as the temperatures dip, and frozen pipes can burst which is a situation you don’t want to be in! Check the pipes in attics, basements, crawlspaces, garages and wrap them in insulated fiberglass or foam sleeves.
Get your roof ready
Inspect your roof for any repairs such as damaged or loose shingles and leaky vents. You can inspect the roof using binoculars or call in roofing experts to do a thorough check. If the house has a flat roof, sweep off the fallen leaves and other debris that accumulates over time. Flat roofs are also susceptible to rain water pooling on them and causing leaks. Mold and mildew stains are indicators of a leak, which if not addressed on time, can compound your problems when the rains and snow come pelting down.
It’s time to seal any gaps and cracks that could cause air infiltration and spoil even the most efficient heating system. To check for drafts walk around the house holding a lighted candle. Caulk and reseal every small gap or crevice you come across. When doors and windows are shut, you shouldn’t be able to see any light filtering in through the seal. If you can, reinforce the caulking and weather-strip the windows if necessary. Don’t stop at windows and doors, look for gaps wherever you have cable, gas, and phone lines coming in and even electric sockets and caulk them if needed. This is also a great time to mount storm windows for added insulation and keep the windows from fogging up during the cold season.
Replace the alarm batteries
Replace the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector with new batteries. Test them once to ensure they’re functioning properly. Hold a candle below as a smoke source to see if the smoke alarm goes off. Most of us have these safety devices in the house, but you can also put them up in garages and attics for added safety.
Close the pool
It’s not the season for a swim anyway! Call the pool maintenance guys and close the pool till summer next year and save yourself a ton of cleaning and maintenance woes.
Once you’re done with all these chores, bring out your fall decorations to deck up your house and then sit back and relax! Because it’s not long before your family will be pumpkin picking and carving for Halloween! Have a wonderful fall season!
Author’s profile: Michael Joseph is a freelance writer who has had 12 years of experience as an interior designer.
Photo by Joeri Mostmans/Shutterstock.com
Photo by Paul Maguire/Shutterstock.com Photo by Iosif Gromadko/Shutterstock.com Photo
From Vilseck to the American Civil War, the legacy of Elias Peissner and Lola Montez
By Milena Felkl and Natalie Simmel USAG Bavaria Public Affairs
A19th century love story involving a Vilseck resident, Bavarian royalty, and the American Civil War, is an integral part of Vilseck’s history.
Every town has its own myths and stories that are an integral part of its history, and that includes the love story of Elias Peissner, a man from Vilseck, and Lola Montez, dancer and muse of King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
While the famous love affair between Peissner, the son of Vilseck’s tower guard, and Montez only lasted a few days, it is still a significant part of Vilseck’s history today.
Peissner, who was born and raised in the Vilseck area, first met Montez June 18, 1847, during his studies in Munich.
Montez, originally born as Eliza Gilbert in Ireland, reinvented herself after a failed marriage as a Spanish dancer and eventually travelled to Munich where she started a controversial affair with King Ludwig I.
Her entanglement with the king sparked an outrage, contributing to a revolution that shook the very foundations of the monarchy. In the end, she had to leave Munich and, according to rumors, fled with Peissner’s help to Vilseck disguised as a student.
After their stay in Vilseck, the young couple eventually split up. While their love story ended, they both continued to have memorable lives.
Lola Montez
After fleeing Bavaria, Montez first lived in exile in Switzerland. In 1849, she returned to England, where she published her memoirs in 1851 before emigrating to America.
In February 1851, Montez moved to New York and starred in the Broadway show “Lola Montez in Bavaria.” She later toured the West Coast, inventing The Spider Dance, a revealing dance that was considered scandalous for the time.
She was an artist and dancer all her life, traveled to several countries, but eventually settled in the United States in 1859.
She died just one month before her 40th birthday on Jan. 17, 1861. She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
A tangible trace of Montez’s time in Vilseck remains at the Tower Guard Museum in Vilseck, where a dress she allegedly left behind is on display.
Nymphenburg Castle, Munich; Painted for King Ludwig I. of Bavaria, Photo is
Elias Peissner
Peissner also emigrated to the United States. He arrived in New York, became a professor of German language and literature at Union College in Schenectady, New York in 1849.
In the United States, Peissner was known for his publications, including various linguistic essays and his notable work, “The American Question in the National Aspect,” which advocated for the nonviolent abolition of slavery.
In 1861, Peissner formed the volunteer unit the Union College Zouaves and fought in the American Civil War as Colonel of the 119th New York Regiment. He died from a fatal wound on May 2, 1863, during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.
Peissner is recognized in the town of Vilseck. The city has named a street after him and placed a plaque outside his birthplace, the Wünnenberghaus in Vilseck, that still stands today near the marketplace.
Visit the Erste Deutsche Türmermuseum, the first German Tower Museum, in Vilseck to see the Peissner family’s ancestral tree and view the travel gown allegedly left behind by Montez. For more information visit http://www.tuermermuseum.de. Photo
Military photo of Col. Elias Peissner, 119th New York Regiment Contributed Photo
Lola Montez (1821-1861), Irish dancer and muse of King Ludwig I. of Bavaria; painted by Joseph Karl Stieler (1781-1858), 1847, Gallery of Beauties at
Public Domain
King Ludwig I. of Bavaria, painted by Joseph Karl Stieler, 1826, Neue Pinakothek, Munich Photo is Public Domain
Garmisch employee serves volunteer time during recent flood event
Story &
Andrea Griesser USAG Bavaria Public Affairs
After flooding struck many parts of Bavaria in June 2024, volunteers rallied to support area communities, including U.S. Army Garrison Garmisch’s own Robert Huste.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in several cities, including Schrobenhausen in upper Bavaria. In the city and the surrounding villages, streets were partially flooded so badly that many people were trapped in their homes.
Emergency personnel and special vehicles were needed to bring them to safety.
This is where the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) came into play.
Volunteers from GarmischPartenkirchen supported the crisis area, including Huste, the acting Operations and Maintenance
chief, Directorate of Public Works, Garmisch, who spent several days in the disaster area helping to evacuate people from their homes.
After several days on the job, Huste returned to work the very next day.
“When you see the relieved and grateful looks on the faces of the people you were able to help, you forget the stress and tiredness of
several days of not getting much sleep,” said Huste.
Companies must release employees for voluntary work if it is in the public interest, and the U.S. Army is no exception. Several employees at the Garmisch garrison volunteer for service such as mountain rescue service, the volunteer fire depart-
ment, or the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).
To thank the garrison for the release of Huste from duty during the floods in June, the THW State Commissioner for Bavaria, Dr. Fritz-Helge Voß, awarded the garrison a certificate for releasing Haste for deployment during the floods.
Robert Huste stands with a certificate from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, State Commissioner for Bavaria, Dr. Fritz-Helge Voß.
Robert Huste was a driver of one of these vehicles during a recent flooding in Bavaria. Huste helped rescue senior citizens in the town of Schrobenhausen. Photo by THW
photo by
CPT Mark Garner Street honors Hohenfels community member, fallen 1-4 Inf. Regt. warrior
By Bryan Gatchell USAG Bavaria Public Affairs
Members of the Hohenfels military community gathered to honor a fallen hero and dedicate a street as CPT Mark Garner Street July 31, 2024 located next to the headquarters building of 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment.
U.S. Army officers from across Europe, Hohenfels area mayors, Family members from Germany and the U.S., Soldiers from the 1-4 Infantry Regiment, and many community members came to the street dedication to honor the memory of Capt. Mark A. Garner.
Garner, a native of State Road, North Carolina, commissioned as a second lieutenant from West Point in 2002. He served a distinguished military career with 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, at Fort Liberty (then Fort Bragg), North Carolina. He married Nickayla Myers of Jonesville, North Carolina, in 2004, and the two moved to Hohenfels where Garner served as the battalion S-4 and B Co. (Blackfoot) commander for 1-4 Infantry Regiment. Garner died when a roadside bomb detonated against his vehicle July 9, 2006 in the Zabul province of Afghanistan. His company supported the UN International Security Assistance Force as part of Task Force Zabul under operational control of the Romanian army. Petty Officer 2nd Class Tony Michael Randolph, a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal specialist from Henryetta, Oklahoma, was also killed because of the explosion.
While in Hohenfels, he volunteered with the Hohenfels Community and Spouses Club, was active in the Family Readiness Group, participated in the Army Family Action Plan, and attended German military meetings as a military liaison. He regularly provided Englishlanguage tours of the Parsberg castle museum. Nickayla Myers-Garner, Garner’s spouse, continues to serve the Hohenfels community as the school liaison officer. She and Garner’s sister Rachel Heiner and his brother-in-law, Dr. Mark Heiner were in attendance. The ceremony took place on the street being dedicated, which con-
ferred traveling with a convoy so he could be with his Soldiers. He also read the letter MyersGarner wrote to her fellow military spouses in the Blackfoot Family Readiness Group two days after Garner’s death.
“‘Mark was so proud of your husbands and what they are doing for the country and freedom,’” Cannata said, quoting Myers-Garner. “‘Ladies, he loved your husbands. I know they have done an outstanding job, and I do not regret the time Mark spent with your husbands, as I do not regret the time I spent with all of you.’”
Katrina
Bravo
nects Calloway Drive with Warrior Way and separates the 1-4 Inf. Regt. headquarters building and Warrior Field.
Col. Kevin A. Poole, who until recently served as commander of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, was a professional colleague of Garner in the 1-4 Inf. Regt.
“All that I can remember, all that carries over to this day, is that smile,” said Poole. “In all the interactions I had with him – all the training experiences, live observations of him as a great warrior, a great trainer, an excellent leader and a commander – all I can remember is that smile.
“Mark, it’s been a privilege and an honor to serve beside you,” Poole continued.
Col. Pongpat (Deck) Piluek, the chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, traveled from France to take part in the ceremony. Both Piluek and Garner served as company commanders at 1-4 Inf. Regt., and he enjoyed a close friendship with the Garners.
Piluek learned of Garner’s death when by chance he saw 1-4 Inf. Regt. leadership and the chaplain with Nickayla Garner at the airport.
“My heart sunk,” Piluek said. “When I approached you, Nickayla, as you recall, I could no longer contain my emotions when you uttered the words, ‘Mark’s gone.’ I cried with you in front of the whole world traveling through the airport that day. Nothing else mattered.”
Piluek was reminded of the others whose sacrifices were honored with similar dedications, such as Cpl. Isaiah Calloway, Spc. Marlon Jackson and Maj. Brian Mescall, who have streets dedicated to their memory, and Sgt. Rodney J. Harris, who has a fitness center named after him.
“A day will come when we will no longer be here, but the legacy of Mark and others from the warrior battalion will be remembered through acts such as this,” Piluek said.
Col. (retired) Greg Cannata, director of the Family Life and Faith Formation at Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church, served as the battalion S3 when deployed with Garner in Afghanistan.
Cannata recalled how Garner, on July 6, 2009, had opportunities to travel by plane but pre-
Master Sgt. Travis Daddato, an observer controller / trainer with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, served with Garner in Bravo Company. Daddato was a private at the time he joined B Company, and Garner sought him out immediately to welcome him.
“Something I’ve always admired about Captain Garner was his approachability and going out of his way to make me, a private, feel seen and welcomed in the company,” said Daddato. “He was always out there to share the burden and danger when he didn’t have to.
“A year does not pass where I do not think about his leadership and his sacrifice,” Daddato continued.
Following the spoken remarks, Poole; MyersGarner; Heiner; and Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager – Hohenfels, unveiled the street sign for the newly dedicated CPT Mark Garner Street.
left, Col. Kevin A. Poole, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria commander; Nickayla Myers-Garner, Gold Star spouse of Capt. Mark A. Garner and school liaison officer for USAG Bavaria - Hohenfels; Rachel Heiner, sister of Garner; and Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager - Hohenfels, reveal the new street sign for CPT Mark Garner Street. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria dedicated a street to the memory of Capt. Mark A. Garner, a member of the Hohenfels community and former commander of Bravo Company (Blackfoot), 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, during a ceremony July 31 beside the headquarters building of 1-4 Inf. Regt. Distinguished visitors came from France, Germany and the U.S. and included mayors from local towns, leadership from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center and 7th Army Training Command, and Soldiers from the 1-4 Inf. Regt.
From
Photo by Pfc. Jaimee Perez, JMRC HHC Viper Team
Capt.
Josberger, commander of
Company (Blackfoot), 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, presents a plaque with a replica of a street sign to Rachel Heiner, sister of fallen B Co. commander Capt. Mark A. Garner.
Photo by Pfc. Jaimee Perez, JMRC HHC Viper Team
Master Sgt. Shaun T. Frank, Bravo Company (Blackfoot) first sergeant, presents Nickayla Myers-Garner, the Gold Star spouse of fallen warrior Capt. Mark A. Garner, a bouquet of flowers. Photo by Pfc. Jaimee Perez, JMRC HHC Viper Team
Local national hiring at forefront of Volksfest recruitment efforts
Story & photos by Natalie Simmel USAG Bavaria Public Affairs
During the 63rd German-American Volksfest the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Workforce Development team hosted a local national recruitment booth to recruit future local national employees, Aug. 2-4.
During the three-day event, 28 volunteers from 12 different job fields manned the recruitment booth making a total of 2,319 contacts.
Ann-Kathrin Hartmann, workforce management specialist, was the lead for this year’s recruitment booth.
“We are a huge organization and just like the companies out there in the corporate world, we do have many colleagues who are about to retire,” explains Hartmann. “So, we are looking for motivated and dedicated new team members.”
Currently, the garrison workforce at USAG Bavaria is comprised of more than 1,600 personnel of which 1,216 are local national hires more than 76 percent.
The recruitment booth consisted of two tents, one military style and one traditional tent from USAG Bavaria, to showcase the connection between the local national workforce and the military training area.
To help draw potential employees to the tent, a wooden sign from Maintenance Activity Vilseck, USAG Bavaria’s special heavy duty mechanics shop, was on display. In the tent, a highlight video was shown, emphasizing the wide range of career opportunities available at USAG Bavaria.
“New, young and motivated team members are vital for the successful future of our team,” said Daniel Koenig, administrative support specialist and volunteer at the recruitment booth. “They bring new ways of executing tasks in modern ways and are responsible for a positive change of our working culture.”
Recruitment booth volunteers shared information about open job availability, internship opportunities, apprenticeship positions and the dual study program.
“Events like this are important because everybody thinks only Americans can work on base. We received so many questions about that, people always think they can’t work on base and are therefore unaware about all the great job opportunities we have,” said Bianca Behrisch-Chappell, USAG Bavaria human resource specialist and volunteer at the recruitment booth.
One special event during the GermanAmerican Volksfest was the apprenticeship contract signing of Directorate of Integrated Technology apprentice, Samuel Schmidt, who
was invited by his future directorate to sign his contract on the opening day of Volksfest.
“It is important to give young people the chance to start their career with a solid foundation and I believe apprenticeships are the best chance to start a job while getting all the knowledge they need for their later business life,” said Christian Dilling, information technology specialist, volunteer at the recruitment booth and Schmidt’s future trainer.
Eventgoers did not only learn about the different job opportunities on hand but could also apply for jobs on the spot.
“We are happy about any applicants, no matter the age,” added Behrisch-Chappell. “But especially for young people it might be interesting to work in an international work environment with a big variety of opportunities and plenty of room for personal growth or career development.”
Individuals with especially great interest in working for USAG Bavaria or people who applied for jobs on the spot, were invited to a tour of the water tower at Tower Barracks, where they could visit the water tower museum and learn about the history of the training area and a little bit more about their possible future employer.
A special thanks goes out to all volunteers who helped recruiting efforts at the GermanAmerican Volksfest:
• Anna Andersen
• Annika Edl
• Nicole Stelter
• Bianca BehrischChappell
• Hans Pappenberger
• Tanja Mihalik
• Rene Titz
• Christian Dilling
• Danny Pavlowski
• Daniel Koenig
• Josef Ploessner
• John Schulz
• Monika Kovacs
• Matthias Schwemmer
• Natalie Simmel
• Katharina Haney
• Aimée LeMaster
• Hans-Juergen Pirner
• Michael Auer
• Nicola Ehbauer
• Ira Baker
• Christina Sittl
• Diane Beer
• Roger E. Muzzy III
• Andrew J. Galazzo
• Stephanie Franz
• Dietmar Pienkny
• Alexandra Hall
For more information about jobs, apprentice, internship and dual study opportunities visit https://home.army.mil/bavaria/ employment or https://portal.chra.army.mil/mnrs.
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or www.transglobal-carshipping.de info@transglobal–logistics.de
Local national hiring at forefront of Volksfest recruitment efforts during the 63rd German-American Volksfest.
USAG Bavaria’s Volksfest showcases decades of German-American friendship
By Capt. Sara Berner 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
As is tradition every summer in Bavaria, more than 100,000 people gathered for the 63rd annual German-American Volksfest here, Aug. 2-4, in a fun-filled celebration of partnership and unity between both nations.
On the first day of the event, the festival opened with several distinguished guests fulfilling roles in initiating the celebration. Grafenwoehr Mayor Edgar Knobloch and U.S. Consul General Timothy Liston, both frequent guests of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria events, were key players in welcoming this year’s festivities along with the grand opening guest of honor, Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder. Söder, who was elected as the Bavarian Minister-President in 2018, helped cut the ribbon to open the festival, only the second Volksfest since the event experienced a threeyear lapse from 2020-2022. During the opening ceremony, Söder received a tour of the festival grounds from Col. Kevin A. Poole, former commander of USAG Bavaria, where he tried a variety of American refreshments, greeted guests and interacted with both U.S. and German military personnel. In his opening remarks, Söder spoke highly of the longstanding and blossoming friendship between the German and American people.
Aug. 3.
The Grafenwoehr Training Area, where the event was held, serves as the U.S. Army’s largest training footprint in Europe and is used frequently by both American and German military forces. The USAG Bavaria GermanAmerican Volksfest, which is always hosted within the training area, began in the 1950s, only a few short years after World War II ended. Though the world and training area have changed greatly since then, the central themes of the first festival — friendship, unity, and partnership — remain the same.
Throughout the festival weekend, German and American guests from areas both near and far attended Volksfest, where they enjoyed activities such as carnival games, rides and retail booths. Countless food and beverage vendors lined the festival grounds, offering a large variety of American and German culinary favorites from bratwurst and pretzels to hot dogs
“We are not only brothers in arms here, but brothers in values. We not only have common interests, but common values of freedom and democracy that have connected us for a long time.”
and hamburgers. Two beer halls, one representing the U.S. and the other Germany, offered live music and a line of beers from their respective countries. Equipment displays from the U.S. Army, Bundeswehr, and Nuremberg Airport were also open for guests to explore, strengthening ties between the military, civilian and local communities.
Markus Söder, Prime Minister of Bavaria
“One of the important aspects of this festival is to show the German people that this is a symbol of our steadfastness in support of the defense of the European continent,” said Poole. “We have displays of all our military vehicles which shows our strength — not only American strength, but German as well. It’s something special.”
This year’s festival was special because it provided an opportunity to celebrate other milestones within the USAG Bavaria community.
Franz Zeilmann, a community relations officer
A child explores a Black Hawk medevac helicopter alongside a U.S. Soldier during the 63rd annual German-American Volksfest at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 4.
Photo by Capt. Sara Berner
Nighttime shot of the festival grounds during the 63rd annual German-American Volksfest at Grafenwoehr Training Area,
The U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria German-American Volksfest was held from Aug. 2 to 4. Photo by Capt. Sara Berner
with USAG Bavaria, is retiring later this year, marking this his last Volksfest as an employee of the organization. Zeilmann originally hails from Germany and has worked for the U.S. Army for over 40 years, starting as a mechanic before moving up throughout the years to his current role in the Public Affairs office. In an act of appreciation for his years of dedicated service, Poole asked Zeilmann during the grand opening to tap the Volksfest ceremonial keg, a traditional act that symbolizes the start of large celebrations in Bavaria. “Col. Poole chose me to tap the keg after 40 years of working for the U.S. Army and tak-
ing care of Soldiers — it’s a big honor to do that, especially here at Volksfest with a lot of people in attendance,” said Zeilmann following the grand opening ceremony. “I have seen a lot of people and positive changes over the years. When you think back to over 70 years ago, we were enemies and now, we celebrate a longtime friendship. It’s just great and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”
In addition to Zeilmann’s retirement, Poole relinquished command Aug. 6, only a few days after the conclusion of Volksfest. Throughout his tenure as the commander of USAG Bavaria, he became widely beloved
Festival goers enjoy a carnival ride during the 63rd annual German-American Volksfest at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 4.
by Capt. Sara Berner
by both the military and the local population, constantly prioritizing the welfare of all those within the USAG Bavaria community.
For Poole, the 63rd annual German-American Volksfest served as a farewell to not only the organization he led, but the local community he came to know and love throughout his time as commander.
“I’m just happy to be here,” said Poole. “This is one of my last missions with USAG Bavaria and I couldn’t think of a better way to close out two years as commander of this great organization — going out with one of the best German-American Volksfests.”
A couple watches a carnival ride during the 63rd annual German-American Volksfest at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 4. The U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria German-American Volksfest was held from August 2-4 at Grafenwoehr Training Area. Thousands of guests from areas both near and far attended the event, where they enjoyed a variety of activities such as carnival games, rides, retail booths, live music, and beer halls. Countless food and beverage vendors lined the festival grounds, offering a large variety of American and German culinary favorites. Equipment displays from the U.S. Army, Bundeswehr, and Nuremberg Airport were also open for guests to explore, strengthening ties between the military, civilian, and local communities. The USAG Bavaria annual Volksfest is the largest event of its type in Germany, drawing crowds from all over the country to celebrate the partnership and friendship between both nations.
Franz Zeilmann, a community relations officer with U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, taps the ceremonial keg with U.S. Army Col. Kevin A. Poole, former commander of USAG Bavaria, during the grand opening of the 63rd German-American Volksfest at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 2.
Photo
Col. Kevin A. Poole, former commander of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, center left, Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder (center), Grafenwoehr Bürgermeister Edgar Knobloch (center right), and U.S. Consul General Timothy Listen, along with other distinguished visitors, cut a ribbon to signify the grand opening of the 63rd Annual German-American Volksfest at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 2. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Tolliver
Photo by Capt. Sara Berner
Delicious pumpkin cheesecake
by MilitaryInGermany.com
Pumpkins make a cheesecake incredibly moist. This cheesecake will stay moist for days in the refrigerator. The flavors of both the cream cheese and pumpkin shine through. It’s delicious!
One warning: if you bake the pumpkin cheesecake without a water bath it will likely crack on the top. I’m ok with this; I think it adds to the rustic, homemade look. If the cracks present a problem for you, you will need to use a traditional Bain Marie, or water bath, and extend the baking time by 15 minutes. This will probably also require firing up your full-sized oven; there isn’t enough room in most toaster ovens for a proper water bath.
Ingredients
Crust:
• 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground mace
• 4 ounces of melted butter
Filling:
• One small to medium pie pumpkin (it will need to produce 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups of cooked pumpkin purée)
• 24 ounces of cream cheese (cultured cream
cheese adds the most flavor, if you can get it)
• 3 whole large chicken eggs plus one yolk
• 1/4 cup of full-fat sour cream
• 1/2 cup of white sugar
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground mace
• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
Directions
1. Heat your toaster oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Split the pie pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy stuff. Rub each pumpkin half lightly with the oil of your choice (walnut oil works well for this.) Bake until the pumpkin is soft all the way through, this should take about 45 minutes. Cool slightly, then scoop out the cooked pumpkin flesh and purée it in your food processor. Set aside.
3. Decrease your toaster oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
4. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, ground cinnamon, ground mace and melted butter in a medium mixing bowl. Mix well. Press into the bottom of a greased 9 inch springform pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Set the baked crust aside and let cool.
5. Put the cream cheese into a stand mixer fitted with the beater paddle. Beat until completely smooth. Add the pumpkin puree. Beat till smooth and combined. Add the eggs and the yolk one at a time, beating between each addition. Add the sour cream, beat again. Add the sugar, beat again. Add the brown sugar, beat again. Add the cinnamon, mace, cloves, sea salt, flour and pure vanilla extract. Beat again.
6. Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Bake for one hour, rotating it halfway after 30 minutes. Turn the toaster oven off, but don’t open it and leave the cheesecake in the toaster oven for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from the toaster oven and let cool at room temperature for 2 hours. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 5 hours.
Tips & Suggestions
• Check out my other articles to find a recipe for homemade whole grain graham crackers. They make excellent crumbs for the crust.
• Put a small cup (oven proof of course) of water in the corner of your toaster oven while baking the cheesecake. This will minimize, but not eliminate, the cracks.
Author profile: Heather Krasovec, creator of Toaster Oven Reviews, uses her extensive experience in food based industries to help consumers make better choices when stocking their kitchens.
Photo by Olyina
Unbe-leaf-able:
Four places to see amazing autumn colors in Germany
by MilitaryInGermany.com
Forests are an essential part of Germany. Naturally, autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons around. Gold, orange and red leaves are yours to see all over the country. Get out there and immerse yourself in autumn’s grandeur!
One of the benefits of living in Germany is that nearly everyone is close to trees. Even if being outside isn’t necessarily your thing, few natural wonders are more wondrous than Germany’s forests in autumn. Germany’s famous forests can be found nearly everywhere, and can be appreciated on foot, on bike, or from inside a car. When you drive beautiful two-lane roads through, say, the Black Forest, it’s like you’ve entered into a whole new world. It is literally incredible. Best of all, you can almost always find (free, no-fee) hiking spots along the way. If you stop and go for a walk (or run, or mountain bike), you can lose yourself for hours and come back refreshed. Since autumn is upon us, here are four great places to begin your leaf appreciation tour outside of Bavaria.
Black Forest
Even though the Black Forest is famous for its evergreen trees, autumn colors can be found in abundance. Best of all, the ambiance of the Black Forest is perfect for the fall season. There are golden fields, long shadows, gothic villages and comfortable gasthauses in which to warm yourself. As day turns to night, things might even start to seem a little spooky. Where to start: This region is ideal for driving, and there are a ton of jumping off points. Start in Pforzheim and wind your way south along Highway 294 to Freudenstadt. Or begin in Baden Baden and dive into the heart of the forest along Highway 500. Whatever route you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Photo
Maria Gern pilgrimage church in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, with Hochkalter peak in the background.
Historical city of Breisach with St. Stephan’s cathedral, Baden-Württemberg.
Palatinate Forest
For those who live in or near Kaiserslautern, you have natural gold right in your back yard. The Palatinate Forest is absolutely beautiful during the autumn. From a distance, the hills can almost seem like a painting: grand splotches of gold, green and orange intermingle. It’s outstanding. And there are an abundance of places to hike and bike in the forest. It’s a must-do.
Where to start: For adventurers, plug “Johanniskreuz” into your GPS and just start driving. Once you get there, pick a direction, go, and enjoy. For those who need a little more precision, Highway 48 from Kaiserslautern to Burg Trifels is tough to beat.
Hessen Spessart Nature Park
The Spessart is a heavily forested range of small, old mountains that stretch from northern Bavaria into Southern Hessen. Going there is like visiting an ancient, almost archetypal version of Germany. Autobahns and large cities disappear, replaced by vast stretches of what feels like wellcultivated wilderness. Parts of the forest are populated by hundreds-year old oak trees, towering beech trees and deep silence. It’s especially gorgeous in autumn.
Where to start: Begin in Biebergemund, and wind your way southeast along Highway 276 to Lohr am Main. It will give you a great taste of the Spessart, and will provide ample opportunities to take small side roads north or south into the forests.
Vineyards
Autumn is harvest season for German vintners. This much is true. But for anyone who has witnessed hillsides of vines packed with golden leaves, autumn is also leaf-peeping season. Fortunately for most Americans living in Germany, you’re rarely far from great wine regions. Where to start: The Mosel Region has loads of picturesque views, especially above towns like Piesport or Bernkastel-Kues. Of course, there are also amazing vineyards to see in the Pfalz region or the Nahe region.
Photo by Leonid
Photo by Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock.com
Berwartstein Castle in the Palatinate Forest, Rheinland-Pfalz.
Moselle River and vineyards in Bernkastel-Kues area, Rheinland-Pfalz.
Mespelbrunn Castle in the Spessart Forest, Hesse.
German pumpkin fests
by MilitaryInGermany.com
The American love affair with pumpkins is well-documented. On the other side of the Atlantic, autumn is the season in which decorative gourds pop to life all across the country. Coffee shops fill with pumpkin spice lattes. Kitchens everywhere give off the delicious aroma of pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread. Children and parents alike sharpen their carving knives, ready to create the best jack o’lanterns ever.
But you’re here, in Germany. So… that means no pumpkin magic, right? Wrong!
In fact, Germany does an excellent job of celebrating pumpkins, even if the tradition of eating them frequently hasn’t quite caught on. This country has some of the best — and biggest — pumpkin celebrations in the world.
And many of those celebrations are happening right about…now. So if you’re mad about pumpkins (and even if you’re not), get ready to experience how pumpkins are celebrated in Germany.
The Great Pumpkin Fest in Ludwigsburg
Billing itself as the largest of its kind in the world, the pumpkin fest in Ludwisburg is truly awe-inspiring. The artists, organizers and gourd-philes who host the festival use nearly half a million pumpkins. Some of the pumpkin artwork is staggeringly cool. You’ll find pumpkin sculptures of animals, landscapes and pop culture figures.
It’s not just the visuals that make the Ludwisburg Fest a great one. There, you’ll find people who also appreciate the magic that exists when it comes to cooking with and eating pumpkins. There are sweet and savory treats for every palate imaginable. This year’s exhibition will be open until November 3. And best of all, the festivities are accessible and held outside in a lovely setting. Ludwisburg is 30 minutes north of Stuttgart and just about 3 hours drive from Grafenwöhr.
See https://travel.ludwigsburg.de/start/events+_+festivals/ ludwigsburg+pumpkin+festival.html for more details.
Photo
Photoby FamVeld/Shuttersto ck com
Pumpkin appreciation in Bavaria
There are several pumpkin fests in Bavaria and it’s worth looking out for local smaller events near you throughout fall season.
Jerry's Pumpkin Patch is American owned and well worth a visit. Drive to Litzlohe and follow the signs to the patch.
Litzlohe, 92367 Pilsach (Landkreis Neumarkt)Visit https:// jerryspumpkinpatch.com/ for more information or their instagram account for impressions https://www.instagram.com/ jerryspumpkinpatch/
A Pumpkin Fest by the Bavarian Red Cross Sinzing, takes place September 29, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. with coffee & cake, pumpkin soup, barbecue, bouncy castle, and pumpkin carving.
The municipality of Altendorf in the Bamberg region has earned a reputation as the Upper Franconian pumpkin village. A large number of edible and ornamental pumpkins of different varieties are grown in the fields here and marketed regionally. A special event is the pumpkin festival held regularly in the municipality on the first weekend in October, which also presents many culinary delicacies related to pumpkins in a varied program. Anyone who has tried the variety of pumpkin specialities here has fallen in love with the brightly colored crop. The communities of Altendorf and Seußling are a popular stop for cyclists on the Regnitz cycle path. Visitors come from far and wide on the first weekend in October when the parish hosts its pumpkin festival. Starting with the pumpkin night on Saturday and a harvest thanksgiving service on Sunday, a colorful program with many culinary delicacies leads through this special festival, in which (almost) the whole village takes part.
Altendorf is a 1.5 h drive from Grafenwöhr. Visit https://www. bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/kuerbisfest_in_altendorf-522933/ for more details.
A farm festival with around 80 art and culinary exhibitors are offered at the Hoffest at Hofgut Sickertshofen on the last weekend in September. Sickertshofen is a 2.5 h drive from Grafenwöhr.
More details can be found at https://hofgut-sickertshofen.de/ kunst-kuerbis/
Even though you may not be in the land of pumpkin love this autumn, there are still a ton of opportunities in Germany. So get out there and enjoy the season!
Photo by Paolo
Photo
BRK-Haus Sinzing, Bahnhofstraße 29, 93161 Sinzing
Annual Oktoberfest takes over Munich
by Petra Lessoing contributing writer
One of Germany’s most famous festivals, the Oktoberfest in Munich, takes place September 21 through Oct. 6.
For the 189th time, visitors from all over the world will come to celebrate the world’s biggest folks fest in the mecca for beer lovers.
Last year, around 7.2 million visitors came to Oktoberfest, drank 6.5 million liters of beer and ate more than 400,000 chickens, 53,500 ham hocks and 104 oxen.
Beer tent hosts and breweries officially start the event with a parade leading from Sonnenstrasse to Theresienwiese at 10:45 a.m. Saturday. The lord mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, beer tent hosts, their families, waiters, waitresses and showmen will ride in decorated horse-drawn wagons, accompanied by bands who will then perform in the tents.
At noon, the lord mayor will tap the first keg of beer in the Schottenhamel tent. The festival tents will be open before then, but beer will not be served until noon.
The traditional “O’zapft is!” exclamation comes from the Schottenhamel festival tent, because this is where the event was “officially” opened for the first time in 1950 by Thomas Wimmer, the mayor at the time. It’s said that he hurried to
the Schottenhamel for the Oktoberfest opening ceremony, because he was running a little late after opening a fair at Theresienhöhe just before noon. Additionally, it was pouring rain on this Saturday afternoon in September 1950, causing Mayor Wimmer to take the fastest route into a tent. It is hard to say whether this is the historic truth or if it’s just another Oktoberfest legend.
The second parade, the costume and marksmen’s parade, will begin Sunday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. on Maximilianstrasse.
About 9,500 participants dressed in traditional costumes will walk in the two-hour long pageant that covers 7 kilometers
Photo by Rimma
Oktoberfest Munich on Theresienwiese fair ground.
to the fest grounds. The participants come not only from Bavaria, but from all over Europe. Besides the wagons from the six Oktoberfest breweries, drawn by horses, splendidly decorated floats and wagons will participate.
Oktoberfest has its origin in the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, later crowned King Ludwig I, to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810.
Munich’s citizens were invited to the celebrations at a meadow outside the town’s gate. To honor the bride, the meadow was later named “Theresienwiese,” or Therese’s meadow. A horse race, observed by the whole royal family, closed out the wedding festivities. With the decision to repeat the race in the following year, the tradition of Oktoberfest began.
In 1818, the first carousel and two swings were set up. Beer was sold in little booths until 1896, when keen pub owners, in cooperation with the breweries, installed the first “beer castles.” Rides and shows covered the other part
of the festival grounds.
Today, the festival has a large amusement park with more than 80 rides and games, 14 beer tents with more than 100,000 seats set up by six regional breweries and 16 smaller tents with 100 to 500 seats each.
A “Mass Bier,” or a liter of beer, ranges from €13.60 to to €15.30.
Festival hours are from Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 11.30 p.m., Fridays and Wednesday, 2 Oct. 2, 10 a.m. to midnight, Saturdays 9 a.m. to midnight and Sundays 9 a.m. to 11.30 p.m.
For further information in English visit https://www.oktoberfest.de/en
Also check out smaller Oktoberfests in the area
Oct 5: Schwarzach near Nabburg, Schlossbauernhof Altfalter, SCA Oktoberfest 2024
Oct 12: Regensburg, Oktoberfest at the brewery at Regensburg Castle
Photo by
Enjoying community events with your sensitive child
by Lisa Helenius contributing writer
Fall is here and it is time for festivals, fairs and fireworks displays! That sounds like a blast to most folks, but when you have a sensitive child the fun can be touch and go. If your child has a sensory processing disorder, an autism spectrum disorder or simply has a sensitive spirit, you are very aware of his or her unique needs and triggers.
Here are the top three scenarios that you may encounter and some helpful solutions to keep the peace of mind for your little one. Bonus –any of the solutions can be applied to any of the challenges. Mix and match as you like!
The Build Up
CHALLENGE: Your child is anxious about crowds. They express distress at the thought of going to an amusement park or county fair because it is so unpredictable. “I’m scared” and “I don’t want to go” are common statements.
SOLUTION: Write a social story with your child. This means walking through the event in kid friendly language. Practicing the story each day can help make the activity more predictable and predictability for sensitive children equals comfort.
Here is an example of a simple social story. You can look at pictures online, have your older child draw pictures or take some pictures in advance with your phone for illustrations as you practice the script that corresponds with the picture. Do an internet search to see some more examples. I will have fun at the water park. I will ride in the car. Mom or dad will buy a ticket. We have to wait in lines, but we will get our turn. Other adults and kids will be having fun, too. I will play in the water. I will follow the rules. When it is time to go home, I will change my clothes. We will go back to the car and drive home!
The Boom
CHALLENGE: Your child is scared of loud sounds. Sirens send him into a panic. Fireworks – forget about it! It’s a “fight-flight-freeze” situation when the environment is noisy and he is truly freaking out!
SOLUTION: Try noise cancelling headphones. They are sold at the hardware store in kids’ sizes or you can find them online. If this isn’t realistic, try regular headphones that cover the whole ear and let your child play some calming music or white noise. You can even create your own white noise on the fly by cupping your own hands over your child’s ears and resting your chin on the top of their head while you hum. Believe it or not, chewing gum or drinking from a straw can also help muffle sounds to a degree.
The Bubble
CHALLENGE: Your child thrives with personal space and loses it if someone bumps into them or touches them unexpectedly. Waiting in line is especially difficult. He might even lash out or hit others if his personal bubble is threatened.
SOLUTION: Create a “safe zone” or physical barrier for your child. At a festival, this might be pulling them in a wagon. Bring a pop up tent if you are at a park. Let them wear a backpack when standing in line or push a younger sibling in the stroller — two natural physical “barriers.” At a music concert, a simple towel or blanket on the lawn can help your child define their own space. Bring an extra sheet or blanket for them to put over their head if they need to create an escape tent. Weather permitting, you may even consider having your child wear snugly fitting clothing, as this can provide calming pressure input. Many sport style shirts, swim shirts or leggings can do the trick. Hats help, too!
There is a lot of fall fun to be had and your sensitive child can be a part of it with a little strategizing and planning. Happy Fall season!
Author’s profile: Lisa Helenius is a practicing occupational therapist with over 25 years of pediatric experience. She currently is a partner at Growing Up Therapy.
See https://growinguptherapy.com
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Photo
Robin de Blanche/Shutterstock.com
Upcoming movies
Photo by Tatiana
Wolfs
Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he's forced to work with an unexpected counterpart.
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, and Poorna Jagannathan
Rated R
Megalopolis
A conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D. B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman
Rated R
Joker: Folie a Deux
Failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital. Upon his release, the two of them embark on a doomed romantic misadventure.
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener
Director: Todd Phillips
Rated R
Grafenwöhr Tower Theater
Bldg. 607, Tower Barracks 92655 Grafenwöhr
Vilseck Rose Barracks Theater
Südlager 354
92249 Vilseck
Katterbach AAFES Theater
91522 Ansbach
Hohenfels Movie Theater
Bldg. 3, 92366 Hohenfels
German cinemas showing movies in English language Amberg
Cineplex Amberg
Regensburger Str. 1 92224 Amberg Tel.: 09621-8979677
