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Wiesbaden welcomes American volksmarch club

By Donald SeltzerSeptember 11, 2014

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIWC volunteers Jean Bivens (middle) and Juliana Moore (right) offer a hungry participant two of Germany's most popular items at a volksmarch event -- a bratwurst on a roll and German potato salad. A variety of food offerings, and people enjoying the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIWC member Andrea Childerhose answers questions from new volksmarchers at the club's inaugural event in Wiesbaden-Delkenheim. More than 800 participants, 77 pf whom were first-time volksmarchers, turned out to walk 5-, 12-, and 22-kilometer trails ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A German volksmarcher checks the trail map at one of the WIWC event checkpoints while another participant picks up some of the sweet tea and water offered as refreshment. Volunteers Brad Crandall of the Ramstein Roadrunners club and Klaus Michels of ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Warrant Officer 1 Troy Kaita of the 24th Military Intelligence Battalion, along with daughter Kaitlyn (left) and son Noah, walk on the 12-kilometer trail at the WIWC event in Wiesbaden-Delkenheim. The club offered a special "Kinder und Jugendwanderta... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany -- The recently-formed Wiesbaden International Wandering Club played host to its inaugural walk at nearby Wiesbaden-Delkenheim Sept. 6. More than 800 participants enjoyed trails of 5, 12, or 22 kilometers on a sunny, almost cloudless day.

Vickie Southworth, WIWC vice president, said she was please with the turnout of Germans and Americans at the club's first event and, more importantly, the numbers of Americans who were introduced to the sport. "We've had a lot of new walkers, first-time walkers today."

She added one of her personal goals, and that of the club, "…is to bring the German and American communities together, and to encourage Americans particularly to participate in events with Germans, and to get out and see the real Germany, not just sightseeing spots, and volksmarching is a great way to do that."

Assistance preparing and running the walk was provided by fellow volksmarch clubs: the local German club, VSV Wiesbaden; the Ramstein Roadrunners club; and Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club.

Chaplain (Col.) Rod Lindsay, U.S. Army Europe command chaplain walked 12 kilometers and summed up the morning's experience with a passage from the book of Isaiah: "…they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they will walk and not grow weary; and they will run and not faint."

The local German club, VSV Wiesbaden; the Ramstein Roadrunners Club; and Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club provided assistance preparing and executing the walk.

Community organizations Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, Sergeants Major Association, Kontakt Club, Hessen International Ski Club, Army Community Service, German Red Cross and the Warrant Officers Association also lent a hand to facilitate fitness and German-American friendship.

For more information about volksmarching in and around Wiesbaden, visit http://www.wiwc-volksmarching.de/.

Given the outstanding weather for the event, it's a safe bet the club will invite the chaplain to next year's volksmarch.

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