Friendship Award Presented to Outstanding Members of the German Community in Columbus, Georgia
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- Ingeborg Wills (left) and Margarete Crane
- (© German Consulate General)
"The Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award" was presented to Ingeborg Wills and Margarete Crane, two outstanding members of the German community in Ft. Benning, during the annual German-Italian Memorial Day ceremony on November 18th.
The Award is given every year by the German Ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth to extraordinary citizens to thank them for their ongoing support of the German-American cause. These individuals come from all walks of life but they have one thing in common – their desire to create mutual understanding and to be Ambassadors of their German home country here in America.
Ingeborg Wills was honored as one of the hardest workers for the cause of German-American friendship and an irreplaceable part of the German community in Columbus. She has been a member of "Klub Heimatland" since 1974 and has served as the club's president for the past 13 years. Under her leadership the club has participated in a multitude of international events and charities and its members have been honored by the Mayor of Columbus for their tireless enthusiasm and effort in promoting German culture in the region.
Margarete Crane's award was presented to her upon the suggestion of General Josef Dieter Blotz who visited from Germany last year and was deeply impressed by the excellent care given to the graves of the German soldiers at Fort Benning. Mrs. Crane has been in charge of this effort for almost a decade and deserves our gratitude for the beautiful decorations placed by her and her many helpers that make the celebration of the German-Italian Memorial Day so very festive every year.
