Berlin Arrival

A group of 26 people who are or were from southern Minnesota and whose ancestors immigrated from Germany to Freeborn County, have all arrived in Berlin for the 2012 Germany Heritage tour.  Steve and Ann Sprenger and Wes Sime have organized the two week event.

Many in the group travelled together on a flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to Newark (EWR) and then on a connecting eight-hour flight to Berlin.  Steve, Ann and Wes had a different one-stop flight out of MSP.  They had a delay in Cleveland which almost prevented them from making the EWR flight to Berlin but we were watching out for them.  At Andrea Sime's urging and making sure she kept her promise to a co-worker to not let Wes get lost, United Airlines agreed to wait for the delayed  Cleveland flight.  After a 15 minute delay, the three caught up to the rest of us and we all arrived in Berlin together this morning.  Some of Steve's luggage came later today and all was well.

Details from Chuck Steele

Plans were for Dean and Bev Baer, Joan and Ross Moyer and Wes Sime were to park their autos in the Steele driveway by 8:30 am and take a Supper Shuttle to the Minneapolis airport. Joan and Ross arrived early, but at 8:35 still no Dean and Bev nor Wes Sime. Chuck had given directions to turn off I 35 on Dakota county 46 and drive east to Gardenview drive to 157^th St. 8:40 am they came rushing down 157^th St. just in time. It seems that they were relying on Tom-Tom for directions to the Steele house but were guided incorrectly and had been running around Apple Valley for about an hour miss guided by Tom-Tom. Not a good omen for the trip. However all went well and we got to the airport in plenty of time. Consensus of the group, don’t rely on Tom-Tom. 

The Apple Valley group met with most the rest of the tour group at the Minneapolis airport. Greetings were exchanged and everyone was eagerly awaiting the next leg of the Journey. 20 of the group were booked on a direct flight to Newark and Steve and An Sprenger plus Wes Sime had to take a one hopper through Cleveland then to Newark.

The direct Flight to Newark was cramped but uneventful and on time. Chuck sat by Ruth Heine and Ruth indicated she had never been to New York and was hoping to see the statue of liberty. As luck would have the flight course took us just south of the island of Manhattan and the downtown New York City plus the Statue of Liberty. Ruth was thrilled to see both.

 Short after arriving in Newark the group of 20 were informed that the Cleveland flight was missing the pilot in Cleveland and was going to be delayed.  A great concern fell over the group of 20 because Steve and Wes were the Tour leaders were on the delayed flight. Andrea Sime applied her persuasion skills with the gate agent pleading to hold the Berlin flight so the Tour leaders could catch up with the Group. She did a wonderful job and the Berlin flight was held for about 20 minutes and the Leaders joined the group. It was mentioned if the leader had not caught the flight it would have been a whole day before they could have catch the nest flight to Berlin.

Notes from Wes:

We have arrived and are truly enjoying the Deutschland experience. Hearty Breakfast this morning following a great dinner together last night as we get to know each other. All arrived safely and some luggage finally to follow.

Our travel was punctuated by a delay in Cleveland.  Annie, Steve, and Wes almost spent the wkd in Cleveland because United didn't have a pilot and after some harrowing rush through the Newark airport.  We were hustled on to a chariot (airport cart for the elderly and disabled).  Annie said we felt like we were either elevated to prince and princess status or we had aged two-fold over the last few hours of travel.

During our dinner last night we heard about just a little of our heritage. Can you imagine what it was like coming over to the States from Germany in the 1800's leaving every amenity behind and trying to scrap out sustenance from the land with little more than a sod hut for shelter. One of the earliest was Henry Wittmer who got it all started on our side of the family.

Then there was Valentine Katzung who fought in the Civil War with the Minnesota Regiment recruited and sent to battle by then Gov Ramsey.  This Regiment was thrown into a suicide run against Picket's Charge  at Gettysburg.  If they had not disrupted the battle strategy, the outcome of the War might have been different.  Only 60 of the 280 Minnesota boys survived and Valentine came back to Nebraska.  He homesteaded near Blue Earth and later moved to Mansfield where he then donated the land for the Mansfield Church and cemetery.