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News Archives - 2006
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News Archives - 2007
December, 2006
November, 2006
October, 2006
August, 2006
Cultural Center Receives Major Gift From Krier Foods, Inc.:
Wëllkomm Centre To Be Named Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre
The Luxembourg American Cultural Society is proud to announce that it recently received a major gift from Krier Foods, Inc. of Random Lake, Wisconsin. The gift was given as part of the Roots & Leaves Capital Campaign that is funding the construction and operation of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center.
Bruce Krier, CEO of Krier Foods, Inc. conferred the gift to the Cultural Society in light of the Krier Family’s pride in their Luxembourg heritage and because of the company’s long history as a premiere corporation in Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin.
In recognition of the gift from Krier Foods, the Welcome Center at the Luxembourg American Cultural Center will be named the Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre. Bruce Krier stated: “The Krier Family and Krier Foods is proud to be the sponsor of the Wëllkomm Centre. It will be a great way to memorialize our family and the legacy of our company which has its roots in Belgium, Wisconsin.”
The Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre will house the Luxembourg American Family Tree sculpture, a museum registration and information kiosk, a general display area, a Krier Foods legacy display, and a donor recognition wall. All visitors will enter the Cultural Center through the Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre where they will be welcomed and registered before visiting the Roots and Leaves Museum.
Kevin Wester, Director of Development for the LACS, shared: “We are so grateful to Bruce Krier and Krier Foods for their generous lead gift. Not only is their gift a jump start for our Capital Campaign but it also is a most fitting tribute to the Krier Family and their entrepreneurial spirit.”
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Luxembourg Ambassador to the US, Joseph Weyland, Visit to MN and IA
In early December, Luxembourg Ambassador to the US, Joseph Weyland, visited Luxembourg American settlements in Minnesota and Iowa. It was his first visit as Ambassador to these regions. Read more about his visits to Rollingstone, Winona County, Minnesota and St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa.
- For Rollingstone Visit: Winona Daily News Winona, Minnesota Written by David Krotz December 2, 2006 Used With Permission.
- For St. Donatus Visit: Dubuque Telegram Herald Dubuque, Iowa Written by Rob Kundorf December 3, 2006 Used with Permission.
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Luxembourg American Cultural Center Featured in Luxembourg's Telecran Magazine
The Luxembourg American Cultural Center received an outstanding honor when it was featured in the November 18, 2006 edition of Luxembourg's popular, weekly magazine Telecran. The three-page article, written by Martina Folscheid, highlighted this past August's Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Cultural Center and also gave readers in Luxembourg an overview of the Cultural Center project. LACS Board Member, Jean Ensch of Strassen, Luxembourg was also interviewed. Jean has been a driving force behind immigration studies and preservation of Luxembourg heritage here in America for many years. The Telecran has given the LACS permission to reprint the article on our website and to include an English translation by Dr. Kristine Horner of the University of Leeds, Great Britian. We are grateful to Martina Folscheid and Dr. Kristine Horner for their kind assistance.
To view the Telecran article with photographs click here or to view the translation click here.
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Avery Dennison Corporation Receives
2006 Luxembourg American Business Award
The Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce, based in New York, welcomed about 260 guests to its biennial Luxembourg American Business Award Banquet held on November 16, 2006 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City.
On behalf of the Avery Dennison Corporation, Mr. Dean A. Scarborough, President and CEO, received the 2006 Luxembourg American Business Award sponsored by the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce. This distinguished award to Avery Dennison was presented by the honored guest of the celebration, H. R. H. Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg. Prince Guillaume delivered a compelling speech about the successful business relationship between numerous American-based companies, such as Avery Dennison, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
(l-r) George Faber, Michel Franck, Jeannot Krecké, Dean Scrborough, Vicki Hart,
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Guillaume, Victorine Hinger, Fernand Lamesch
and Toni Dudzak.
Avery Dennison, know world-wide as for its office products and industrial materials, especially adhesives, is based in California but established its presence in Europe in 1955. In 1990, Avery Dennison opened its Roll Materials Europe manufacturing facility near Rodange, Luxembourg. Since then, the 360-employee facility has become Avery Dennison’s largest volume pressure-sensitive materials plant and has produced nearly 5.3 billion square meters of product.
The facility’s workforce manufactures a wide range of Fasson-brand self-adhesive label stock for a variety of applications such as health and beauty, household chemical, industrial and automotive, tracking and logistics, retail, food and beverage, wine and spirits, and durables. The facility’s world-class products are exported to more than 20 countries around the world.
Recently, Avery Dennison significantly expanded capacity at its Rodange facility with installation of one of the fastest-running, high-volume, self-adhesive coaters in the world. The Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Mr. Jeannot Krecke, Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade; Ms. Ann Wagner, U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg; and Donald W. Stoebe, Vice President and General Manager of Avery Dennison’s Roll Materials Europe Division participated in the office opening of the new production line in May 2006.
This year’s Luxembourg American Business Award was an exquisite sculpture created by artist Victorine Hinger. Victorine’s art has been featured in shows and exhibitions through the US, Luxembourg, and Europe.
To learn more about the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce and/or this Business Award Event, visit www.luxembourgbusiness.org.
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The Butterfly of Luxembourg
Luxembourg ambassadors applaud author’s work on historical biography
NEW YORK, NY. On October 17, Luxembourg government officials welcomed author Lonnie D. Story of Holly Hill, Florida, and WWII survivor and War Bride, Anni Adams of New Smyrna Beach, Florida and former Long Island life-long resident, for a reception and book signing for The Meeting of Anni Adams: The Butterfly of Luxembourg at the Luxembourg House, a cultural center in New York City that houses Luxembourg diplomatic missions.
Story’s effort to share a part of Luxembourg’s history during WWII were recognized at this event by the Ambassador of Luxembourg to the United Nations, H. E. Jean Marc Hoscheit; the Ambassador of Luxembourg to the U.S., H.E. Joseph Weyland; and the Luxembourg General Consul, Georges Faber.
Story's work was lauded by General Consul, Georges Faber as a magnificent, historically correct accounting of the hardships suffered during the time period of his country's occupation and suppression. A graphic recounting and punctuated recounting of one woman's representation of many thousands of others like her and their inspiring ability to resist, relent and remain strong in the most dire of circumstances. Mrs. Adams, it was said by the speakers, not only remarkable in her own right, but for many reasons, represented the personification of guts, grit, fortitude, faith and hope, all answered in her story of the truest form of the American Dream come true.
Lonnie D. Story is the author of Adams’ biography, The Meeting of Anni Adams: The Butterfly of Luxembourg (ACW Press, 2004, ISBN: 1-9321-2426-8, $20.95), which recounts the journey of a Catholic war bride who lived through the Nazi horrors in Luxembourg.
On May 10, 1940, a war began in Adams’ backyard when Nazi armies started their campaign in the West, pouring through Luxembourg in their rush against France. German law was imposed, the use of the native language was forbidden, and French-sounding names were converted (including those of Adams’ family). This marked the Nazi’s crusade to indoctrinate the Luxembourgers, making them believe they were ethnic Germans. But 98 percent of the population vigorously opposed the indoctrination, which drew a series of reprisals. People were beaten, harassed, imprisoned, and even executed by the Gestapo.
The Meeting of Anni Adams: The Butterfly of Luxembourg shows how family and faith fueled Adams’ survival through her evacuation into France and the years of German occupation of Luxembourg when she and her family were placed in labor camps and government prisons. Adams went on to live a remarkable life in the United States, where she displayed an uncanny ability to meet many people of renown in the most unlikely circumstances.
In April 2003, Story met Adams in an unlikely place: a flower shop in Florida. With flowers in hand, Adams started telling me about her extraordinary experiences during WWII; it felt I had known her my entire life, Story says. ”From then on, we forged a strong friendship that has allowed me to share this relatively unknown part of history with others.”
In an interview, Story can discuss: How meeting Adams changed his life forever; The War Bride Era: What brides like Adams went through during WWII; The German occupation of Luxembourg; Anni Adams’journey toward the American Dream.
Story is a freelance writer residing in Holly Hill, Florida. He is currently working on his second book, "Without A Shot Fired: The Dustin Brim Story," a true story about U.S. soldier deployed to Iraq in full health who returned to discover he had aggressive, terminal cancer. For more information, visit www.lonniestory.com.
If you would like to set up an interview with Lonnie D. Story or Anni Adams, please contact Lonnie Story at (386) 253-2463 or sail44free@aol.com.
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The Luxembourg American Cultural Center Ground Breaking
It was a glorious, sunny day on Saturday, August 12, as the Luxembourg American Cultural Society broke ground for Phase One of its new Luxembourg  American Cultural Center. The celebration took place on the site where the Cultural Center will be built within the New Luxembourg development in Belgium, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, USA. About 150 persons, young and old, gathered for the groundbreaking celebration.
The 15-member Moselle Valley Brass Band of Luxembourg provided music throughout the event including the Luxembourg and American national anthems. Cultural Society President, Lloyd Croatt, welcomed guests and visitors and served as master of ceremonies for the celebration. Honored guests from Luxembourg included Germaine Goetzinger, Director of the National Center for Literature, and her husband Charles Berg. Madame Goetzinger served as the official representative of Luxembourg’s Secretary of State, Octavie Modert and the Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research. Other important guests from Luxembourg included LACS Board Member Jean Ensch, Director of Population for the City of Luxembourg, and Änder Hatz of Luxembourg’s National Archives.
 The groundbreaking ceremony began with a series of speeches from local and international leaders. LACS Board Member Ethan Hastert, of Chicago, read a congratulatory letter from his father, US Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert. In his letter, Speaker of the House Hastert spoke of his Luxembourg heritage and congratulated the LACS on the achievement of breaking ground. He also encouraged all Luxembourg Americans to take pride in their Luxembourg heritage and to be active participants in the Cultural Center endeavor. Ethan Hastert then gave a speech reflecting on the values of his Luxembourg heritage especially the important call to be people of community service.
Mr. Hastert’s speech was followed by remarks from Donald “Peanuts” Schommer, president of the Village of Belgium, Wisconsin. Mr. Schommer spoke with pride about his Luxembourg heritage and also affirmed the Village’s enthusiasm about the Cultural Center’s presence in Belgium, Wisconsin.
Donald Hansen, Honorary Consul General of Luxembourg in Chicago, then shared his congratulations and support toward the Luxembourg American Cultural Society and the building of the Culture Center. He encouraged all Luxembourg Americans to support the project and to work together for the project’s success. Mr. Hansen then introduced Madame Goetzinger who offered a compelling speech about the strong bond between Luxembourg and the United States. She also affirmed the Grand Duchy’s ongoing support of the Cultural Center and its commitment to continued collaboration with the Luxembourg American Cultural Society.
After a musical interlude, Kevin Wester, Director of Development for the LACS, offered some remarks encouraging all Luxembourg Americans to personally invest in the Cultural Center project through their moral and financial support. He also highlighted how the new Cultural Center will belong to all Luxembourg Americans throughout the US.
Following these remarks, a unique Soil Ritual was lead by Dan Smith, Director of Administration for the LACS. Twenty-seven representatives from various Luxembourg American communities and regions throughout the US were present, each having a bucket of soil from their community. As the names of the specific region and communities were called off, the representatives came forward and poured their buckets of soil around stone from the 1872 Mamer/Hansen barn which will be rebuilt to house the Cultural Center’s Roots & Leaves Museum. The ritual symbolized the coming together of all Luxembourg Americans and their regions in the new Cultural Center.
Bishop Raymond Goedert, of the Archdiocese of Chicago, then came forward and offered a blessing over the soil for the Cultural Center and the soil representing all of the various Luxembourg American regions. This was followed by the actual breaking of ground. Most of those in attendance participated in the groundbreaking by using a shovel to dig into the Cultural Center’s soil. It was an event filled with laughter and a spirit of good will and working together.
The groundbreaking celebration concluded with a toast of Luxembourg wine enjoyed by all those present. The toast was filled with hope that the Cultural Center project would be a huge success and a source of pride in Luxembourg heritage for generations to come.
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Luxembourg American Cultural Society opens Interim Museum
American Association of Museums and the United States Congress is pleased to announce that 2006 is the Year of the Museum, and institutions across the country are celebrating 100 years of museums in American life. The Luxembourg American Cultural Society is joining in the national party by opening a small display on Luxembourg American Culture in the America. The Luxembourg American Cultural Society Interim Museum, located at 755 Main Street, Belgium, Wisconsin will be open Friday evenings from 4pm – 8pm. Stop by the LACS Interim Museum before or after a Friday night fish fry at Curley’s or your favorite restaurant to learn more about Luxembourg American culture and the future plans for the Cultural Center.
The Year of the Museum is dedicated to celebrating the rich variety of museums in America, their contributions to civic and cultural life and the unique, personal experiences museums offer visitors each and every day.
“In a time when we are all leading hectic lives, museums offer us a chance to catch our breath and spend time with family and friends learning new things or rediscovering things we have forgotten. We are proud to be part of the Year of the Museum, focusing attention not just on Luxembourg American Cultural Center, but on the ways that museums across the country enrich our lives each and every day,” said Dan Smith, Director of Administration for the Luxembourg American Cultural Society.
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Moselle Valley Brass Band Visits U.S.A.
The Moselle Valley Brass Band (MVBB) of Luxembourg enjoyed a five day, whirlwind tour of Wisconsin as part of the Groundbreaking Celebration for the Luxembourg American Cultural Center being built in New Luxembourg, Belgium, Wisconsin. The band’s entourage of 16 persons included 14 band members and two spouses of band members. The group visited Wisconsin from August 10 – 14 and enjoyed accommodations with local host families from Port Washington and Belgium.
On Thursday, August 10, the MVBB arrived in Milwaukee where they were welcomed by Lloyd Croatt, President of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society. There was no wasting time as the band performed a noon concert at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The concert was followed by lunch at the Rock Bottom Brewery and a tour of Milwaukee’s new Calatrava Art Center. The MVBB then made their way to Port Washington where they met their host families.
On Friday, August 11, the MVBB received a day-tour of Luxembourg heritage sites in northern Ozaukee County. The tour began with a visit to the 1860 Port Washington Light Station where the band climbed to the top of the historic light tower. The tower was donated by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 2002. The band then visited St. Mary’s Church, Port Washington and St. Mary’s Church, Lake Church.
Since Lake Church is so close to the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan, the tour bus made its way to Harrington Beach State Park where the MVBB witnessed the rough waters of a mid-summer, windy day. A couple of the “braver” band members jumped into the Lake and battled the waves as their cohorts looked on safely from shore.
The next stop on the tour was St. Nicholas Church and Cemetery in Dacada. Those new to this region of Wisconsin were amazed at all of the familiar family names that were found on cemetery monuments.
A delicious lunch with lots of wine and beer was enjoyed at Curley’s (Luxembourg-theme) restaurant in Belgium. Following lunch, the MVBB visited the Interim Museum of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center located on Main Street, next to Curley’s. There they enjoyed viewing Luxembourg heritage artifacts from throughout the United States.
Waubeka, the birthplace of Flag Day, was the band’s next destination. After a brief viewing of Stoney Hill School, the band was given a tour of the National Flag Day Americanism Center with its “Avenue of Flags” and history of Flag Day Founder, Bernard J. Cigrand.
As the band made their way back to Port Washington for the final leg of the tour they drove past the restored Sinnen House at Pioneer Village. The Sinnen House is a Luxembourgish stone house restored by the Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1992.
Arriving in Port Washington, the final attraction was a tour of Allen-Edmonds Shoe Factory, known for its upscale men’s shoes sold throughout the US. The band received an informative tour of the plant and learned more about industry in the US.
Following the day-tour, members of the band joined their host families for dinner at Curley’s Restaurant in Belgium. Along with a delicious dinner, those gathered enjoyed the music of Marie-Pierre Schambourg Fletcher, a guess vocalist from Luxembourg who also participated in the Groundbreaking Celebration weekend.
On Saturday, August 12, the MVBB gathered at the site of the future Luxembourg American Cultural Center and provided music for the groundbreaking ceremony. The band accompanied both the Luxembourg and United States national anthems as well as providing music throughout the celebration.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony, the MVBB scurried to a flatbed semi-trailer where they took their places for the Luxembourg Fest parade. The band’s energetic music was a hit with parade goers and many people said that they “stole the show!” After the parade, the MVBB made their way to the Belgium Community Center where they provided listening and dancing entertainment for the Second Annual Green Heart Gala Dinner/Dance/Auction sponsored by the Luxembourg American Cultural Society.
On Sunday, August 13, the MVBB rose early to participate in the Catholic Mass at Luxembourg Fest. As the Fest afternoon progressed, the MVBB entertained fest-goers at 2:30 and 5:00 p.m. The band performed a variety of music including Luxembourg and American tunes.
As the Fest concluded, the band gathered once again at Curley’s for a farewell dinner compliments of Mike Ansay and the Luxembourg American Cultural Society. Each band member received a pewter ornament of the1860 Port Washington Light Stations as a gift for their participation in the groundbreaking celebration. Following dinner, members of the MVBB and some of the locals broke into song with a variety of Luxembourg and American favorites. The bonds of friendship that had developed over the past days were apparent with the singing and laughter that ensued.
Following a final night’s sleep in the US, the MVVB boarded their bus for the return trip to O’Hare Airport in Chicago. The Luxembourg American Cultural Society would like to thank the MVBB for their participation in the events surrounding the groundbreaking weekend. The band’s energetic presence helped make the weekend so memorable.
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