Celts, Romans and revolution: just how these elements fit together was demonstrated at the music picnic organised by the European Cultural Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim in collaboration with the German-American Institute (DAI) Saarland and the Saarpfalz district. The historically significant site on the German-French border was the venue for a varied programme. The event was organised to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.
A highlight was the visit by the American author Karen Shambaugh Rink. She presented her book *My Greatest Adventure*. Rink lives with her family in France, near the border, and is a member of the “Daughters of the American Revolution” (DAR), a voluntary women’s organisation founded in 1890 that honours the achievements of the American Revolution through a wide range of programmes and activities. Any woman aged 18 or over who can provide evidence of a direct ancestor who contributed to American independence is eligible to join. The author tells the story of three young people from Alsace who set off for America with the Régiment Royal Deux-Ponts and fought for the independence of the 13 colonies from the British Crown at the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia. The participation of French, Palatinate and Saar-Palatinate people in the War of Independence remains a strong bond between Zweibrücken and its twin town, Yorktown in Virginia, to this day.
The 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence of 4 July 1776 was also a key reason for the German-American Institute (DAI) in Saarland and the Saarpfalz district to mark this day. Initial contacts with the partner district of Henrico County, Virginia, began 30 years ago. With financial support from the US Department of State, the US Embassy and the ‘European Cultural Park’ Foundation, a picnic was organised on the spacious grounds in Reinheim, reviving a tradition that is part of American Independence Day celebrations in the USA.
In keeping with another tradition, the Red Falcons cheerleaders from TUS Rimschweiler amazed the visitors with their displays of jumps, lifts and walkarounds, and encouraged them to join in. Children had great fun trying out a lift under the safe and expert guidance of coach Selina Graf. The adults also took part with great interest and enthusiasm – for example, when waving their pom-poms.
Hans Bollinger, Thomas Doll and Christoph Kleuser kicked off the musical programme. In the shade of the tavern, amidst a summery atmosphere, they performed their matinee ‘Andre, who didn’t love the country all that much’, featuring, amongst other things, songs from the era of emigration to the ‘New World’. Gerhard Lang and Bernadette Becker from the band ‘Times and Tales’ used their music to enhance the feeling of a carefree summer’s afternoon. The tavern’s culinary offerings complemented this perfectly. An English-language guided tour and an introductory tour in German provided an insight into the park’s historical background, right up to the camp of the Roman re-enactment group “Legio XIIII Gemina” on the picnic meadows.
“The DAI will be planning another 4th of July event for next year,” says Prof. Dr Astrid Fellner, the DAI’s managing director, who was in the park with her team. Stefan Munz, Managing Director of the European Cultural Park Foundation, who had spent the day there with his team, would like to keep the picnic as part of the programme in future.