Arrival and Welcome
Thursday, August 27, 2026:
The plane touched down at Philadelphia International Airport before storms arrived in the area. Twenty-three travelers from Baden-Württemberg, including Jürgen Harich (President, Weltdachverband), unloaded the bus at Phoenix and were greeted by the German Hungarians. After welcomes and introductions to host families, refreshments and a delicious dinner were available inside the Clubhouse.
When I walked into the barroom, I saw a happy room full of smiles and excited conversations. Some folks we were meeting for the first time, but a few of our guests had been to the US in 2013 and we had seen them again in 2014 on our Club Trip to Freiburg. We were happy to see our friends once again and be the first stop on their 2026 US Tour! After a long journey, the travelers were anxious to get some sleep.
Philadelphia Tour and Schwaben Abend II
Friday, August 28, 2026
Breakfast was provided by the host families, and our guests boarded the bus at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster. It was a beautiful sunny day for a walking tour of historic Philadelphia. Stops included the Liberty Bell, the Signer’s Garden, the Second Bank of the United States, and many of the historic churches in Old City. Walking up to Society Hill, they passed Marlene and Billy’s old haunts and the (now closed) City Tavern. Back in the center of the city, photos were taken at Love Park and lunch was held at Reading Terminal Market. The final stop was to run up the steps of the Art Museum, like Rocky Balboa himself. Some were overheard commenting on the walkability and great history of our city before returning to the VE Club for the evening’s Schwaben Abend II.
The Enzian Musikanten from Delaware entertained the crowd as the hall filled up quickly for this sold-out event. All in attendance were welcomed, and our honored guests, the Banater Trachtengruppe KV Esslingen, were announced to begin their performance. The traditional portion highlighted a Banat Swabian wedding scene between Gretl and Hans, with music, speaking, dancing, and singing accompanied by an accordion and guitar. The men entered with the groom shouting, “Buwe, was ham’r heit? HOCHZEIT!” The girls were dressed in beautiful traditional Banater Tracht, with combinations of white pleated skirts and pink shawls, as well as age-appropriate outfits for the younger and older ladies portrayed in the program.
The Banat Wedding was one of the greatest celebrations of the village, festive, full of tradition and customs. The program shows its key scenes: the procession, the father’s blessing, the Abkrenzeln, as well as the folk dances and folk songs performed by the Trachtengruppe. (PROGRAM excerpt)
After an intermission, during which the Enzian kept the dance floor full, the Esslingers returned to the floor for their second portion of the program. Polkas in polka dots, sequins and glitter, pirate hats and swords, lederhosen and dirndls were some of the outfits featured in The Magical Jukebox: A Musical Journey Through Worlds: from Rock ‘n’ Roll and Schlager to Bavarian folk music. Similar to our very own Kirchweih shows of the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s, the crowd was clapping and singing along to the creative skits and hits known around the world. Bis bald, auf Wiedersehen (“see you later, goodbye”) closed out their wonderful performance.
Farewell and “See You Later”
Saturday, August 29, 2026:
Yum Yum (not a sponsor… yet) donuts and coffee, Philly soft pretzels, U.G.H. stickers, and bottled water were loaded on the bus for their journey to Ohio. Not to be outdone, we were all gathered in a circle and the Esslingers counted off, Eins, zwei, drei… ALLES. With hands held, Renate thanked us for our friendship and for hosting them for their first stop on their America Tour.
Accompanied by guitar, they sang “Wahre Freundschaft.”
Wahre Freundschaft soll nicht wanken,
wenn man gleich entfernet ist,
lebet fort noch in Gedanken
und der Treue nicht vergißt.
Keine Ader soll mir schlagen
wo ich nicht an dich gedacht;
für dich werd ich Liebe tragen
bis in tiefe Todesnacht.
Wenn der Mühlstein traget Reben,
und daraus fließt süßer Wein,
wenn der Tod mir nimmt das Leben,
hör ich auf dein Freund zu sein.
Jetzo schlägt die Trennungsstunde,
reißt gewaltsam mich von dir;
es schlägt zu früh die Scheidestunde,
ach, ich fand mein Glück in dir!
So nimm denn hin vom blassen Munde
den Abschiedskuß, der weinend spricht,
und denk an diese Trennungsstunde,
oh einz’ger Freund, vergiß mein nicht!
Im Stillen werd ich Tränen weinen
und träumend dir zur Seite stehn,
und seh ich Gottes Sonne scheinen
werd ich für dich um Segen flehn
True friendship shall not falter
Though we be far apart;
It lives on in our thoughts,
Faithful within the heart.
No pulse shall beat within me
Without a thought of you;
I shall hold you in my love
Until death’s deep night falls too.
When the millstone bears the vine
And sweet wine flows from the stone,
When death takes this life of mine—
Only then shall our friendship be gone.
Now the hour of parting strikes,
Tearing me forcibly away;
Too soon the moment of farewell comes—
Ah, in you my happiness lay!
So take from these pale lips
The farewell kiss, spoken in tears;
Remember this hour of parting—
Oh, my only friend, forget me not!
In silence I shall shed my tears
And stand by your side in dreams;
And when I see God’s sun shine bright,
I shall plead for blessings on you.
We were sad to see our friends go but excited for them to experience the rest of their tour in other cities and areas of our great country. Personally, I enjoyed seeing our old friends and catching up on our lives since 2014. While we follow each other on social media, it was great to see them in person again.
On a personal note, I enjoyed getting to know my new friends, especially my guest Buwe. We talked at breakfast and in the car, getting to know each other, our hobbies, our upbringings, and how life is in our own areas of the world. For those of us headed to the Trachtenfest mit Wettbewerb next weekend in Lake Villa, Illinois, we would see you again!
We’re very lucky to have the opportunity to host our friends, great people, and a wonderful event like these past few days. A great many “thank yous” are needed:
- Nichole, Janet, and Marlene: the organizers and coordinators of this event.
- The host families who opened their homes to make this a worthwhile and special experience for all involved: Chris & Nichole Deely, Jim & Silvana Dell, Bill Galgon & Marlene Fricker, Werner Fricker III, Sasha & Janet Malofiy, John & Connie Reiter, Steve & Christina Paul, Michael & Betty Wagner.
- The tour guides who accompanied us on the walking tour of Philadelphia.
- The Verband der Donauschwaben USA and the Stiftung for fostering these relationships and continuing to make these opportunities available to us.
- All of those who attended this fantastic event!
Werner Fricker III
