Pfaffenweiler Bürgermeister Dieter Hahn stands near the partnership document declaring Pfaffenweiler and Jasper as Sister Cities. (photo provided)

To the editor:

Last weekend would have been something really special if not for the COVID-19, which got in the way. In the time frame of June 24-30, we had planned to celebrate our 35th anniversary as Sister Cities with Jasper here in Pfaffenweiler.

Thirty-five years ago, Gerome Alles and Fritz Gutgsell signed the original partnership document as representatives of our communities and thus sealed the friendship of our two communities lasting through today.

It has become tradition over the years that the two current Mayors / Buergermeisters take the opportunity to re-sign the partnership document during the anniversary celebrations, to reinforce and recognize personally our deep friendship.

This year, the reigning Mayor Dean Vonderheide would have signed it with me. That the Coronavirus prohibited the renewed signing and our anniversary celebrations last weekend is certainly very sad, but it won’t stop our friendship.

We are looking forward to June 2021, when we have rescheduled our anniversary celebrations with the same program as planned. With this in mind, we think about all our friends in Jasper.

We are sending heartfelt greetings to all, but especially to the ones who would have been with us this past weekend.

We thank you for your loyalty and for the lively partnership.

Representing the Community of Pfaffenweiler

—Bürgermeister Dieter Hahn
Pfaffenweiler, Germany