GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - More than a dozen staff, faculty and family members of the George C. Marshall European Center Security Studies failed to budge a 500 lb. stone but in doing so, they strengthened the U.S.-German partnership the center relies on to do its mission.
An invitation from "Friends of the Marshall Center," a community civic organization that supports and advocates for the center locally, brought together more than 100 staff, faculty and family members to meet hundreds of their German neighbors at the annual festival at the base of Wank mountain.
Marshall Center and other military family members stationed in Garmisch Parthenkirchen were invited on stage to learn the tradition and technique involved with "steinheben, " a traditional Bavarian strength competition to see who can lift a 500 lb stone the highest. President of the Volkstrachtenverein Partenkirchen Joerg Ostermeier demonstrated proper form and helped each person with their attempt to lift the stone.
"I couldn't move it but I had a great time," said Capt. Charles Upshaw, deputy director of the Marshall Center's Program on Terrorism and Security Studies. "Events like this help us better understand the unique cultural traditions of our German friends and partners without the formality of an official military event or exercise."
Learn more about the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies' German-American partnership at www.marshallcenter.org.
Social Sharing