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| Deputy Principal Officer Richard Aker (right) with Lord Mayor Beutel and Elke Höllein of the City of Mainz |
Mainz Celebrates German-American Friendship
April 6, 2008. The city of Mainz hosted its fourth colorful festival celebrating German American friendship on April 6, following up on previous years' successful events that started after President Bush's visit to the city in 2005. Along with thousands of visitors, Lord Mayor Jens Beutel and Deputy Principal Officer Richard Aker underscored the importance of German-American friendship on a person-to-person level. "Since these festivals bring together Germans and Americans, they are in the truest and best sense bridge building."
As guest of honor at the opening ceremony, Deputy Principal Officer Aker talked about his personal connection to Mainz and Rhineland-Palatinate, which he has visited several times in previous years. He commended the University of Mainz on their excellent American Studies department and mentioned its exchange program with the United States.
Various German-American organizations, such as the Mainz German-American Club and the Freundschaftskreis Mainz-Louisville, were on hand to discuss exchange opportunities together with representatives of the U.S. Consulate's Public Affairs and Consular sections, who advertised their services.
