Celebrate The Berlin Wall Anniversary in the U.S.

Back in November of 1989, we Germans here in Southern California were glued to CNN, watching the events along the German-German border in Berlin unfold in the news coverage. It was an unbelievably emotional moment for me.
I grew up in West Germany. The whole East just seemed like a gray, foreboding place.
My grandparents had taken me to see the border near my hometown Hamburg as a little child. Minefields, barb wire fences, watch towers with armed soldiers - the separation of the two Germanys seemed complete and
permanent.

Once as a teenager, I entered East Berlin during a touristic day trip, crossing Checkpoint Charlie. While West Berlin was a thriving party place, full of color, light and music, the East seemed stuck in the past; gray, cool and quiet.

Seeing the crowds of young people from the East conquering the Wall, breaking through at Brandenburger Tor in November '89 was an incredible event for us. I had never expected to see a reunited Germany in my lifetime. Reunification since then has brought its share of problems and controversies, besides opportunities and family reunions. But The Fall Of The Wall is probably the biggest moment of German history in my lifetime so far.

While I won't travel to Berlin for the festivities of the 20th anniversary, I am glad to share good news from LA Inc:

Los Angeles is the only U.S. city that will feature an official celebration of the 20th anniversary of reunification and the end of the Wall!

Here the information from their newsletter:
Los Angeles is Only U.S. City to Host Berlin Wall Anniversary Celebration Los Angeles will be symbolically divided in two on Nov. 8, 2009 with a stylized wall across Wilshire Boulevard in a re-creation of the destruction of the Berlin Wall to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Invited dignitaries will symbolically destroy one wall segment to dramatically demonstrate that it is within our power to overcome the obstacles and bring down the walls in our own city and in our lives. Since LA was Berlin’s first and only Sister City for two decades, the Los Angeles event is the only official U.S. celebration acknowledged by the German government. It is being organized by The Wende Museum and Archive of the Cold War, in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles. One of the key elements of The Wall Project is to reproduce elements of the art and creativity that the Berlin Wall inspired and replicate its use as a medium for political and personal expression. The Wall Project is an art installation which will feature work of select artists, including Kent Twitchell, Shepard Fairey and Thierry Noir. The Wende Museum is located 5741 Buckingham Parkway, Suite E, Culver City.
Wende Museum open to the public every Friday from 10AM to 5PM.
If your group of 10 and more wishes to visit the Wende Museum, please contact Silke Hilger:
shilger@wendemuseum.org
http://www.wendemuseum.org
Phone: 310.216 1600
Please direct media requests to: Barbara Kraft.
Phone: 818.760.8498
email: barbara@bkraftpr.com

You can find more information and updates to all events in and around Los Angeles on L.A. Inc's comprehensive website: www.discoverlosangeles.com

Photo Captions:
Brandenburger Tor (Gate) - December 31st, 1989
and
My personal piece of Berlin Wall
A gift from Berlin tour operators Gerd and Peggy Lindner