Fredericksburg’s Finest

Sister City Visit to Schwetzingen 2023

by Jenna ELIZABETH eDWARDS

Fredericksburg is situated centrally between Richmond and Washington, D.C., Schwetzingen is located equidistant from Heidelberg and Mannheim. The populations are also roughly similar, with Fredericksburg at 28,367 and Schwetzingen at 21,769. Both are small cities with civic pride, natural beauty, and rich history.

The purpose of the visit was to celebrate over ten years of friendship between the cities May 2010 marked the first Fredericksburg visit to Schwetzingen, when Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Tomzak and Schwetzingen Lord Mayor Pöltl signed a letter of intent to pursue a sister city relationship. That bond was formalized in December 2012 through a signed agreement between Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw and Lord Mayor Pöltl during the

2012 Battle of Fredericksburg sesquicentennial.

In the intervening time, adults and students from Fredericksburg and Schwetzingen have enjoyed cultural exchanges and built enduring friendships. I am honored to serve as the President of the Schwetzingen-Fredericksburg Alliance (SFA), our local group responsible for maintaining our relationship with Schwetzingen. SFA meets monthly for Stammtisch and Kaffeeklatsch, in addition to coordinating lectures and other events pertaining to the celebration of German culture.

It was in my capacity as SFA President that I enjoyed the great pride and privilege of representing Fredericksburg at various special events throughout our delegation's visit to Schwetzingen from May 2nd through May 10th, 2023 Two especially important and historic milestones included the unveiling of a street to Fredericksburg, as well as a public mural symbolizing ten years of friendship between the two cities

Fredericksburger Strasse will be the main street in Schwetzinger Höfe, an ecologically progressive residential development currently under construction and situated in a prime location. Lord Mayor Pöltl noted that the street designation fits perfectly with the site's historical connection to Pfaudler, an American company founded by a German emigrant. Fredericksburg Artist Mirinda Reynolds was also commissioned to create a public mural honoring the bond between Fredericksburg and Schwetzingen Reynolds is the same artist responsible for our beautiful Welcome to the Old Mill District and Agora Downtown Coffee murals in downtown Fredericksburg.

At both of these milestones, I also felt honored to represent the Rappahannock Rotary Club and to witness first-hand the influence of Rotary International's commitment to building goodwill and better friendship throughout the world. Lord Mayor Pöltl and Mirinda Reynolds are also Rotarians. Reynolds was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2014.

Other highlights from the visit included participating in Schwetzingen's

annual Spargelfest ("Asparagus Festival")

The whole city turned out for a festive day of delicious food and community activities. I even had the opportunity to participate in an asparagus javelin throwing contestI threw a raw bundle a whole 15 meters and competed in great fun alongside Lord Mayor Pöltl, Fred Edwards, and Eric Martin.

Our friends in Schwetzingen treated us with the utmost hospitality and took great care in coordinating every detail of our trip to ensure the best experience. When we arrived at the airport, Sabrina Cass, our chief point of contact within Lord Mayor Pöltl's office, and her associates, Katia and Sarah, greeted us with warm pretzels, water, colorful posters, and sincere enthusiasm. The City of Schwetzingen covered our accommodations for the week, the majority of our meals and beverages, and all of our group excursions, including a vintage car show and procession, as well as a 3-hour horse and carriage ride through the Pfalz wine region. There was never a shortage of generosity, laughter, dancing, or music Lord Mayor Pöltl and Martin Griffiths, our wonderful host at the Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens, both treated us to guitar serenades featuring German and American favorites.

A delegation from Schwetzingen will be visiting Fredericksburg in Spring 2024, and we are already exploring ways to create for them an experience as beautiful, meaningful, and memorable as the one they have created for us.

Jenna Elizabeth is a partner of Edwards Law Firm PLLC and a local realtor. She highlights local business owners and community members to showcase why the Fredericksburg region is an amazing place to live.