Friendship without borders

Matthias Schlegel, left, and Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, center, listen as Alfred Schlegel addresses a group of Jefferson City residents who welcomed his family as they visited Jefferson City from Stockenroth, Germany, Aug. 19, 2017.
Matthias Schlegel, left, and Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, center, listen as Alfred Schlegel addresses a group of Jefferson City residents who welcomed his family as they visited Jefferson City from Stockenroth, Germany, Aug. 19, 2017.

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Although a visit from Münchberg officials and a group journey to Missouri didn't take place in 2017, the sister city partnership between Jefferson City and Münchberg, Germany, is still filled with life.

Münchberg Mayor Thomas Schnurrer welcomed two couples from Jefferson City in late August.

While Jefferson City Police Department Lt. David Williams and his wife, Stephanie, had been to Münchberg several times - David even completed an internship at the Münchberg police station - it was the first visit for Deputy U.S. Marshal Brett Roberts and his wife, Rhonda, to the partner city in Bavaria.

Münchberg police inspector Horst Hr invited Brett Roberts to see the Bayreuth deployment center, while the Williams attended the wedding of Martina and René Konrad, of Münchberg.

The Williams and Konrads met each other in Mnchberg in 2014, when the Jefferson City residents were hosted by the groom's grandparents. Since then, they have been friends and stay in contact with each other via email, exchanging information about American football and talking about womens' jobs.

"We are both nurses, and I was allowed to work for a day at Stephanie's hospital station when I visited Jefferson City," Martina Konrad said. "I was very interested in working in an American hospital. That was such a great experience."

The German nurse, who is studying medicine to become a doctor, said she won't forget her day at Jefferson City Medical Group.

When Martina and René Konrad decided to marry, they sent an invitation to the Williams.

"We did not expect them to accept, but when they did so, we were very pleased," Martina said.

The wedding took place last Saturday, and the Williams witnessed their first German marriage ceremony.

While the Williams made new acquaintances at the wedding party, Brett and Rhonda Roberts celebrated with Thomas Schnurrer and former Mayor Thomas Fein at the "Münchberger Feuerwehrfest" - in English, the Münchberg Firemen's Festival.

Fein and John Landwehr, former Jefferson City mayor, established the city partnership in 2004. To this day, they try to fill the partnership with life and joy.

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While the two American couples visited Münchberg, Alfred Schlegel, from Stockenroth, a small village near Münchberg, traveled with his son, Matthias, and his family to Jefferson City. The Schlegel family wanted to see the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.

The Saturday before the eclipse, the German family's arrival was celebrated with a large welcome party organized by John and Margaret Landwehr. About 30 Münchberg-Jefferson City friends came together to greet the Schlegel family and to celebrate the friendship of the two towns.

"I am in Jefferson City for the third time, and I am always amazed how warmly and hospitably we are welcomed," Alfred Schlegel said. He said he hopes to host visitors from Jefferson City on his farm in Stockenroth again soon.

Mayor Carrie Tergin didn't let the invitation escape her, responding: "My parents are Greeks; I am American-Greek. But for a few days, I could probably be German. I surely will visit Münchberg soon."