{"id":440280,"date":"2025-05-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=440280"},"modified":"2025-05-09T10:27:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T10:27:54","slug":"germans-americans-celebrate-long-partnership-friendship-at-hohenfels-volksfest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=440280","title":{"rendered":"Germans, Americans celebrate long partnership, friendship at Hohenfels Volksfest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels, raises the mallet after tapping the ceremonial keg during the opening of the 51st annual German-American Volksfest. She accomplished the feat in one tap. In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels, swings the mallet to tap the ceremonial keg during the opening of the 51st annual German-American Volksfest. She accomplished the feat in one tap. In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a keg tapping during a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a single tap of a mallet April 30, 2025, and ended it with bus tours, military vehicles and music May 4.<\/p>\n

Over the course of five days, neighbors from outside U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria \u2013 Hohenfels drove onto post, parked on the Hohenfels Army Airfield, and strolled the fest grounds to enjoy German and American food, ride several carnival rides, see both U.S. and German military vehicles and spend time getting to know some of their American neighbors.<\/p>\n

At one end of the Festplatz, a Ferris wheel rolled, paused and rolled further, providing a vantage over two lanes festooned with German and American flags, where festgoers passed bumper cars, a shooting gallery, a floating duck game, western wear, candied nuts, churros, French fries, bubble waffles, trampoline jumps, a swing ride, a roller coaster, and commemorative steins. At the other end of the Festplatz, traditional German foods \u2013 Sch\u00e4ufele, Schweinshaxe, Currywurst, half chickens \u2013 were served alongside large, full glass mugs to help wash down the sizzling repast.<\/p>\n

In the Fest tent, the Hohenfels youth brass band played \u201cDie Deutsche Nationalhymne\u201d and \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d as the assemblage paid their respects to the flag. Col. Stephen C. Flanagan, USAG Bavaria commander; Col. Christopher J. Kirkpatrick, commander of Operations Group, Joint Multinational Readiness Center; and Christian Graf, mayor of Markt Hohenfels, delivered opening remarks.<\/p>\n

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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Col. Stephen C. Flanagan, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria commander, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 51st annual German-American Volksfest. In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\u201cThis Volksfest truly celebrates the last 80 years of peace, partnership and friendship between Germany and the United States,\u201d Flanagan said during his remarks. \u201cOur countries\u2019 share values of defending freedoms, human rights and democracies in Europe and around the world, and together we form the strong foundation of the NATO alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flanagan expanded on the importance of JMRC to the militaries of the U.S. and its allies.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we improve warfighting readiness for our U.S., German and NATO allies, and we could not do any of this without our German hosts, who have been our friends and allies for the last 80 years,\u201d Flanagan said. \u201cWe look forward to continuing to grow this friendship and our combined combat lethality in the years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a joyous opportunity to gather together and celebrate!\u201d Kirkpatrick exclaimed. \u201cIt is the envy of the world, the strength of our bonds, partnership and community between both the surrounding towns and the installation here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Col. Christopher J. Kirkpatrick, commander of Operations Group, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 51st annual German-American Volksfest. In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Christian Graf, mayor of Markt Hohenfels, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 51st annual German-American Volksfest. In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest with a fest tent reception April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\u201cI believe it is more important than ever to enhance relations, maintain existing friendships, establish new contacts and also celebrate the fest together,\u201d Graf said, speaking German and English in turn to the guests. \u201cThe fest not only contributes to international understanding, the exchange and encounters during the celebration make an invaluable contribution to mutual understanding. Let us take this opportunity to meet the Soldiers, their Families and friends who are stationed here.\u201d<\/p>\n

In keeping with the traditions of festivals across Germany, the ceremonial tapping of a beer keg started officially opened the Hohenfels German-American Volksfest. Performing the honor was Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager for USAG Bavaria \u2013 Hohenfels. In a single swing of the mallet, she and other military and local leaders poured off and raised glasses to yell \u201cO\u2019zapft is!\u201d which means \u201cIt is tapped!\u201d in the Bavarian dialect.<\/p>\n

A sunny day greeted festgoers on the first day, and U.S. Soldiers, civilians and their Families came out dressed in their Trachten \u2013 Lederhosen und Dirndls.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love that we are able to bring our Families together and have fun,\u201d said Bianca Camarena, a Family member who has visited the fest for several years. \u201cAs adults we\u2019re able to have fun with the child.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 From left, U.S. military Family members Jillian Milanes and Bianca Camarena pose for a photo in their traditional German festival outfits, or Trachten. In celebration of decades of partnership, the Hohenfels military community began their yearly German-American Volksfest April 30, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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Jillian Milanes, another Family member who was attending the fest a second time, appreciated not just the comforting festival food but also the enjoining of cultures.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like we\u2019re all family together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Different musical acts circulated through the fest tent over the course of days, providing a variety of musical genres to festgoers.<\/p>\n

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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Festgoers saw several military vehicles on display at the 51st annual Hohenfels German-American Volksfest May 3, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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\n USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Festgoers enjoyed traditional German food and beverages in the fest tent during the 51st annual Hohenfels German-American Volksfest May 3, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs)
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On the final two days of the fest, military equipment, including vehicles from the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, and from the German Bundeswehr, came out for visitors to marvel at.<\/p>\n

While festgoers largely stayed at the Festplatz, airfield and environs, on May 3 and 4 buses took large groups on a tour through the garrison cantonment and into the training area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 USAG BAVARIA \u2013 HOHENFELS, Germany \u2013 Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels, raises the mallet after tapping the ceremonial keg during the opening of the 51st annual German-American Volksfest. She accomplished the feat in one tap. In celebration of decades […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":440282,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-440280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=440280"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":440294,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440280\/revisions\/440294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/440282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=440280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=440280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=440280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}