After years of planning, delays, 175th finale weekend is near

175th Anniversary Celebration Weekend events slated at fair grounds

The Gillespie County Fair Grounds will host several special events of the 175th Anniversary Grand Finale Weekend on Friday, May 6.

“We look forward to honoring Fredericksburg’s commitment to lasting friendship with a great evening of events at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds,” said Tony Klein, Chairman of the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee.

“During our friendship ceremony, we will welcome our guests in multiple languages that have been spoken in Fredericksburg during the last 175 years, honor special guests, including members of the Comanche delegation and families of Fredericksburg’s founding father, John O. Meusebach and with a speech by Gen. Michael Hagee. The ceremony will be followed by a dinner and evening of live music.”

The “Lasting Friendship” ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on a stage in front of the Gillespie County Fair Grounds grandstands, with seating available in the grandstands. Guests will be welcomed in English, German, Spanish and Comanche languages.

The ceremony will include a number of honored special guests, including Fredericksburg Mayor Charlie Kiehne; Gillespie

County Judge Mark Stroeher; Patsy Stewart, representing the John O. Meusebach family; Mark Woommavovah, Comanche Tribal Chairman; Billy Komahcheet, representing the Native American Church; Michael Ott, Deputy Consul General for Germany; Kyle Biedermann, Texas House of Representatives (tentative); former Mayor and co-chair of the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee Linda Langerhans and Jimmie Langerhans; Joe Kammlah, Francisco de la Torre, Gen. Michael Hagee (USMC, ret.), President/CEO, Admiral Nimitz Foundation; the Rev. Casey Zesch, representing the Gillespie County Ministerial Association; and Tony Klein, Master of Ceremonies and chairman of the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee.

During the ceremony Hagee will present a keynote speech on “Lasting Friendship.”

In addition, New Braunfels representatives Anne Miller and Benno Engel will present Fredericksburg with a special 175th Anniversary gift. New Braunfels was founded in 1845, just one year before Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg officials will also present a key to the city to a representative of the Comanche delegation and to a representa- tive of the descendants of John O. Meusebach.

A special 175th Anniversary community choir, including members from the Trinity (Stonewall), Zion, Holy Ghost and Bethany Lutheran choirs, the First Baptist choir, St. Mary’s Catholic and United Methodist choirs, as well as members of the German Choir and Fredericksburg Chorale will unite to present five selections: The Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America, Texas Our Texas, God of Our Fathers Medley, and a German folk song.

Additional activities taking place at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds on Friday, May 6, include:

• 7:15 p.m. Cowboy cookout dinner, including sausage and potatoes. Meal by donation.

7:30 p.m. 175th Anniversary beard contest winners announced.

8 p.m. Live music by the Sam Whiskey Band begins on the outdoor stage.

9:30 p.m. Tentative viewing of the Grand Finale Fireworks from the fair grounds. (Note: Fireworks may be rescheduled due to the current burn ban in Gillespie County.)

10 p.m. Live music resumes on the outdoor stage.

Anniversary parade heads down Main Street on Saturday, May 7

Has your family been a part of Gillespie County for generations? Has your business been serving our residents for decades? Then you are the perfect entry for the anniversary parade on Saturday, May 7, according to Daryl Whitworth, spokesman.

The Fredericksburg 175th Anniversary Parade will take place on Saturday, May 7, beginning at 10 a.m. on Main Street.

“We have dozens of local families and businesses who are celebrating their heritage with us and we would invite you to join them,” Whitworth said. “We want to acknowledge and honor those whose long-term commitment to the Fredericksburg area has made it such a unique and wonderful place.”

The 175th Anniversary Parade is set to feature the 13 themes of the 175th Anniversary year, including Lasting Craftsmanship, Lasting Traditions, Lasting Family Heritage, Lasting Stewardship of Land, Lasting Education, Lasting Healthcare, Lasting Innovation, Lasting Faith, Lasting Service, Lasting

Leadership, Lasting Commerce, Lasting Arts and Music and Lasting Friendship.

Parade floats and entries will honor Gillespie County families, businesses and organizations with more than three dozen entries confirmed.

The parade route will concur with previous Fourth of July Parade routes, beginning at the intersection of Main and Adams Streets.

The parade will travel East for three blocks on Main Street, U-turn at Washington Street in front of the National Museum of the Pacific War before proceeding west on Main Street for eight blocks and ending at the intersection of Main and Bowie Streets.

Those interested in participating may get more details by emailing fbgparade@gmail. com.

There is no charge to enter the parade and you do not have to be in an historic costume to participate. Deadline to submit an entry is Tuesday, May 3.

HCM passing out free ‘Hats for Little Heads’ at 175th Parade

Families with young children are invited to pick up a free bike helmet offered at Hill Country Memorial’s “Hard Hats for Little Heads” project during the 175th Celebration Parade on Saturday, May 7.

HCM has partnered with the Texas Medical Association to purchase and hand out 250 free bike helmets, according to LeeAnn Shumpelt, RN, Emergency Department Supervisor and Trauma Program Manager.

“We would love to give them all away,” said Shumpelt, noting this is the first time HCM has offered this project to the community. “I think it is a great program, and any time we can prevent a head injury, it is a great thing.”

According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, cycling is the No. 1 cause of injury to children ages 14 and younger, with head injuries the most common cause of serious disability and death. Children ages five to 14 are most at risk for traumatic brain injury due to low helmet use. Injuries resulting from bicycles, scooters, skateboards, inline and roller skates in that age group account for more than 500,000 emergency department visits every year.

A properly fitted helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury and head injury by 4085 percent. Other benefits include:

- Bicycle helmets protect against face, forehead and neck injuries;

- A child who rides with someone who is wearing a helmet is more likely to wear a helmet; and

- A helmet is estimated to prevent up to onehalf of fatal head injuries.

Pat’s Hall Night will pay homage to a bygone era of dancing and creating great memories at Pat’s Hall in Fredericksburg with an evening of live music and dancing Saturday, May 7, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Adelsverein Halle at Marktplatz.

The Saturday evening event

After the parade ends, members of the HCM staff and Emergency Room medical team will be on hand at a booth in front of the Police Annex on the southeast corner of Marktplatz.

They will measure each child’s head and use a chart to fit it with the proper-sized helmet. The helmets are free and will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis as long as they are available.

“This is a way for Hill Country Memorial to help keep you and your kids safer this summer,” Shumpelt said. “We hope everyone who needs a bike helmet shows up on Saturday to celebrate Fredericksburg and to celebrate safety.” will honor Pat’s Hall which drew music fans from all over the Texas Hill Country for more than 30 years. Pat’s Hall began in the 1920s as Seipp’s Hall and became Pat’s Hall in the 1950s, where it continued to host live music on two dance floors — one indoor and one under a historic oak tree, where dancers would two-step, waltz and schottische the night away.

Anyone wanting more information can call 830-997-1304.

Pat’s Hall hosted country music favorites like Jack Greene, Johnny Bush, Moe Bandy, Charlie Walker, Hank Thompson,