Quincy Sister City Commission dedicates plaque to former Herford mayor and his wife
The Quincy Sister City Commission held a dedication Tuesday at the Amtrak Station in memory of the late Herford (Germany) Mayor Gerhard Klippstein and his late wife Ellen Klippstein.
The Klippsteins had been very instrumental in the beginning years of the Sister City relationship between Quincy and Herford. They were Quincy fans and had visited here several times. They also very warmly received any Quincy delegation traveling to Herford.
The Sister City relationship has been growing since 1988. There have been many exchanges of travelers, students, interns, music groups and ideas. On Thanksgiving Day, the Sister City group in Herford County had an American traditional Thanksgiving meal, a tradition they have had for many years now.
After the deaths of Mayor and Mrs. Klippstein, two small plaques had been placed at the train station. Mayor Klippstein’s plaque was placed at a dogwood tree the Quincy Sister City Commission had planted in his memory, and Mrs. Klippstein’s plaque was put at the flower beds, which the Sister City Commission plants and tends every year. One of the plaques has gone missing, and the other one is too small for people to see and know the significance. So this year the Commission had decided to get a new plaque honoring both of them. Harrison Monuments provided the plaque for the Commission.
The relationship between Quincy and Herford is still strong and getting stronger. Exchanges are not only between tourists on a regular basis, since 1989 Quincians have visited Herford County 15 times before COVID, and have greeted Herford delegations on a regular basis as well. There are regular exchanges between high school classes, the Quincy University Chorus is planning to go on regular concert trips, QU Soccer has a regular exchange where they play against clubs in Herford County, and there have been interns traveling for up to three months, to see how business works here.
The Sister City Commission also is the organizer of Germanfest, on the first weekend of June, where they raise the funds necessary to support activities of the Sister City Commission.
For more information, contact Mecki Kosin – 217.779.0152, mecki@travelhouseofquincy.com
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