US SeCretArY oF the ArMY "the ArMY StAYS"

US Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth signed the city's golden book. Gen. Christopher Cavoli (from left), County Commissioner Andreas Meier, Mayors Edgar Knobloch (Grafenwoehr) and Hans-Martin Schertl (Vilseck) as well as Brig. Gen. Joseph Hilbert were pleased about the visit of the high-ranking government representative.

GrAFENWOEHr, Germany - It was a first for Grafenwoehr. For the first time, a high-ranking member of the American government, US Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, visited the town hall. Her message: “The US Army is not going anywhere, it is staying,“ sounded more than positive after Trump's withdrawal plans from last summer.

Three statements by American generals: "Grafenwoehr Training Area and Vilseck are the crown jewel of the US Army," "Grafenwoehr is the core of German-American friendship" and "the training area is fundamental to NATO" were quoted by Mayor Edgar Knobloch during the reception.

Together with County Commissioner Andreas Meier and Vilseck's Mayor Hans-Martin Schertl, they presented the region and the garrison towns to the guest from Washington. The Upper Palatinate should be “a home away from home” for American soldiers and their families. Knobloch also made it clear that the people around the training area are ready to accept the burden of the training as long as the economic input into the region is right.

An announced troop withdrawal would not only have resulted in financial losses for the Northern Upper Palatinate, it would have also destroyed partnerships and genuine friendships that have developed over decades. Knobloch had praise for Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, Commanding General, US Army in Europe and Africa. As a former commander of the 7th Army Training Command, he is an expert and friend of Grafenwoehr.

Cavoli had lifted the previous worldwide exit restriction for Soldiers in uniform, and the uniformed soldiers have now returned to the center of the city. The mayor also described the Army's corona measures and the consistent quarantine rules as exemplary. Wormuth thanked the German officials for their support of the soldiers and assured them that the Army would stay due to new challenges for which the US armed forces are preparing.

The Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas therefore play an important role in the defense of the alliance. "Grafenwoehr is essential for our operational readiness," emphasized Cavoli. In addition to Cavoli, Wormuth was accompanied by the Commander General, 7th Army Training Command, Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Hilbert, and Garrison Commander Col. Christopher r. Danbeck. The visit ended with the entry into the city's Golden Book.

The secretary and her delegation were welcomed to the Culture and Military Museum with the sound of the alphorn. It is also the home of the grand piano that the most famous GI, Elvis Presley, once played in Grafenwoehr. White sausages and meat loaf were served at the Bavarian buffet in the Zoiglstube.

Wormuth also visited the US troops in the training area. The Secretary of the Army's visit began on Monday in Munich. There, Minister President Markus Söder awarded the Bavarian Minister President's streamer to the US Army Europe and Africa - one of the highest military awards in the Free State of Bavaria. Wormuth accepted the award together with Cavoli.