Delphos – Verl Friendship Link

By Helen Kaverman, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, October 26, 2009 (4 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Thirty-four adults and teens from the Verl, Germany, area visited Delphos. The group arrived on Saturday evening and departed Wednesday around noon.The last 10 years have just flown by.  It seems like only yesterday when Mayor John Sheeter and the Verl Burgermeister Josef Lakaemper signed the original Friendship Link Charter. That was 31 March 1999.  The agreement was also signed by Charlie Carder, Delphos Council President and Klaus Hoersting, president of the council of Verl. Twenty eight visitors from Deutchland and over 200 Delphos and area residents were on hand for the big event.
Tuesday night, October 20th Delphos and Verl renewed the Friendship Link with the signing of the proclamation by Delphos Mayor Michael Gallmeier and Verl Burgermeister, Paul Hermreck. This was the third visit to Delphos by Hermreck.  His children have participated in the student exchange program.
Thirty four German guests were in town for this celebration, along with over 100 Delphos and area residents. Bob Ulm provided the dinner music while a delicious “supper” was enjoyed by those in attendance. The German Choir of Delphos provided the entertainment with Paul Hermreck, Alfred Meermeier and Charly Held of Germany joining in the festive singing.  The beautiful harmony was enjoyed by all. Gifts were presented by the Meissners to the city, The Delphos Canal Commission, St. John’s Parish and to many of the individuals who have helped with the Friendship Link, student exchange and travels in the past. I’m sure Frithjof and Christine had to carry an extra suitcase to carry the many gifts. Among the gifts were two sets of five CD’s featuring Verl in pictures and documents, including families, houses and traditions of yesterday and today.
The visitors from Deutchland were mostly from the Verl area. Many were teens and college students since Germany had a fall school holiday at this time. Our friends from Germany were guests in the homes of Delphos and area residents.  Frithjof Meissner organized the German travelers, while Rick Hanser was in charge of the events in Delphos. Helen Meissner, daughter of Frithjof and Christine is presently an exchange student at Delphos St. John’s and living with the Hansers.
The Germans arrived in the USA on October 10th and spent seven days traveling in the Western states, which included Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, San Francisco, the trolley car ride, The California Redwoods and the Grand Canyon.  Rick and Pam Hanser took the western tour with our European visitors.
After their Saturday night arrival in Delphos, they tried to get good nights sleep in their “homes” where they were welcomed for four nights. Some host families have already visited Germany; some have hopes of doing so in the future. At any rate, friendships were created which will last a lifetime. The experience is a great one to step on the soil where our ancestors once walked back in the days before they boarded ship for that month long trip across the Atlantic. On the rough seas, many lost children and had to bury them at sea. Then they came to this wilderness, The Great Black Swamp, where they paved the way for those of us who live in this garden spot today. Some never saw or heard from their families back home again. With today’s technology we have the telephone, fax, e-mail and the Webcam so we can keep connected to our family members wherever they may roam almost instantly.
Our visitors from Deutchland were able to sleep in on Sunday morning, which explains why they were such a jovial bunch. They finally got some rest.
Many attended the 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. John’s, where Margaret Fischer presented a church tour after Mass. This was followed by a visit to the cemetery, where Alfred Meermeier placed the wreath on the grave of Father John Otto Bredeick, the founder of St. John’s Parish, who arrived here in 1844. His younger brother, Ferdinand and Thomas Wrocklage, arrived a few years earlier and located this spot on the proposed Miami – Erie Canal, after consulting with Samuel Forrer, the canal engineer. They purchased land east of the “canal,” which was then part of Jennings Township, Putnam County. The Bredeicks were from Verl. The Meissners and Meermeiers are Bredeick relatives.
Most of Sunday was free for the visitors to spend time relaxing with host families. Some enjoyed the dinners at the St. John’s Festival and spent time socializing in the hall. On Monday, the group toured Vanamatic and the Delphos Canal Commission Museum. Some enjoyed parties with old time friends on Monday evening. The big Friendship Link celebration was held Tuesday evening. The group gathered at the City Building at ll:30 a.m. Wednesday for farewells and pictures. Our new friend, Charlie, reminded me that Delphos would cry when they boarded the bus. This was true but nobody cried harder than Charly, when he hugged his host mom, LouAnn Gordon, good-bye. The bus got on it’s way about 12:30 p.m. with a lot of waves and flown kisses.
Some readers might wonder “How did all this get started?” One of the 2009 visitors, 78-year-old Hermann Wrassman of Belm, Germany, was instrumental in bringing many of these Germans and Americans together. Back in August of 1978, Hermann and his wife, Elizabeth came to America with their 10 year old daughter, Eva Marie. Hermann had developed an interest in genealogy.  During this visit 4l years ago, the Wrasmanns were guests in the home of Bob and Rozella Laudick of Van Wert.  Lucinda and Alphonse Laudick of Glandorf served as interpaters.  Eva Marie would be studying English in school after their return home.
During this visit a large Wrasman, Laudick Reunion was held at the K of C hall in Delphos. Steve Laudick even brought his hot air balloon.
So what is the Wrasman–Laudick connection? Hermann and Mary Elizabeth (Moenter) Wrasman  arrived in Delphos by train in 1882.  They were from Bohmte and Hunteburg, near the towns of Verl, Melle, Osnabruck, Wellingholtzhausen and Glandorf.  They brought with them their family of six living children, ages three to fourteen.  They stayed at the Moenter home upon their arrival.  Of the six children, three Wrasmans married three Ludicks, all brothers and sisters. One married Charles Hoelderle and another married Albin Elwer.  Somehow there is a connection with the Luersman family.  (I hope the Luersmans forgive me because I do not have my family tree chart with me as I sit at this computer, with a deadline to meet.)
Several Luersman, Wrasman and Kaverman relatives were on hand to spend time with Hermann Wrassman on Tuesday evening.
Hermann’s wife, Elizabeth, has gone to her great reward.
There will be more to come on the Delphos – Verl Friendship Link. Auf Wiedersehen!

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