Zersen. Joyfilled songs ring out from the local resort hotel, the Pappmuehle, in Zersen. Over 80 members of the Zersen family from Europe and America, among whom are 15 children, gather and sing the Schnitzelbank Lied of German immigrants. In front of the 20 foot-long roll of paper on which the family tree is documented, stand some with green hats and vests. Among them are Olivia (6 years old) and Aiden (3) Zersen and their cousin Gabby Selear (5). Julie Zersen created the costumes decked out with Edelweiss for her grandchildren to be worn at the family reunion.
The children from Wisconsin enjoy the family gathering in the Weser River's mountainous region. They participate in the program, enjoying most of all the Pied Piper in Hamlin, the boat trip, and the big cookies (Amerikaner) in the Haddessen church barn. The oldest participant at the reunion, Karla Zersen Platen (87) from East Friesland enjoys the exchange of experiences. One-year-old Luca Zersen, also from East Friesland, doesn't yet get too much out of the sharing. He is a member of the 9th generation, descended from Johann Heinrich Zersen.
Tracing his presence on Friday, the Zersens, after a traditional German coffee hour in the Haddessen church barn, march to House 24, built by Johann Heinrich Zersen over 200 years earlier. The roots of all Zersens go back to this man and his two wives, emphasizes Dr. David Zersen from Texas, who has traced his family's history since 1960. In the wonderfully restored house on Beeke Street the Sievers family has now lived for 20 years.
"We only recently learned the interesting history of this house from the newspaper," says Elisabeth Sievers. She shares a picture from 1925 that had been given to her by the eighty-year-old Minna Zersen whose parents appear on the picture in front of the house. "Minna Zersen Klausing enjoyed telling us about the olden days," she added. Others in Haddessen follow the march of the Zersens from their windows. "That is a real immigration parade--and so many children," says one of the residents.
"For the American Zersens it is important to learn how the people in such a village live," explains Petra Zersen from Hanover, who is proud to be married into the family. The communal spirit among all is very high, even though people are meeting each other for the first time. To spend time together, as on Friday morning when all climbed the Hohenstein, was something special. The spirits were very high. "Everyone has interest in the story of the other, and would like to know how he lives and how he thinks," emphasizes Petra Zersen. Sensitivity and understanding are a need for the Americans who are trying to search for their roots.
Earlier the group had visited the original House 1 in Hamelspringe in which Cord Zersen was born in 1623. The next challenge for Dr. David Zersen will be the connection between this Cord Zersen and another Cord von Zersen who lived in the same house in 1564.
Then the Zersens head for Zersen. There a group of representatives from the village await them, among whom is Lina Claus. "I wanted to see the Americans," says the 85 year old woman. Dr. Dieter Claus explains the history of the spot where they meet, "Between the Bridges." In earlier times, this was the shopping mall of Zersen where a blacksmith, general stores and the first Zersen pub were to be found. "Welcome to your village!" says Heidi Fruehling to the family members. She had met Dr. David Zersen in 2008 while serving as a tour guide in the Fischbeck Memorial Church and learned that he assumed his family roots began in Zersen. She prepared intensively for this international family gathering. "Today is the first historical guided tour of Zersen," she says, asking Alan Ward to interpret her remarks. Mrs. Fruehwald says that it was difficult to say much about Zersen prior to 1500. However, excavations in the area have shown that people lived here already 2400 years ago.
It began to drizzle. The guests, most in light summer dress, put on rain capes. "That is really annoying," says a local resident to a woman from Texas who had traveled with her husband, two children and her mother-in-law. She beamed and replied, "The rain is lovely. In Texas it has not rained in five months and we left temperatures of 100 degrees in the shade behind us."
The Zersens are made acquainted with Bertrammus de Chersene or Ziersne (Zersen) whose name comes up in documents from 1223 and 1242. The village name, Cersnen (Zersen) is first documented in 1305. Remains of the farmstead (Hof) of the family von Zerssen are not available. Yet it is known that in 1380 Duke Otto von Holstein- Schaumburg loaned Arnd von Zerssen a mill that stood on the spot where Eickmeyer's Gasthaus stands today. Also, a village dweller remembers that in her childhood a Mrs. Zersen lived in Zersen--new material for the researcher. Heidi Fruehwald proposed that the name Zersen has some connection with the prehistoric name for a brook (Kersen) because the village is characterized by so many canals and water passages. "In such a case, your name would then be as old as 2500 years," she says.
Near to the brook at the sports field, together with the mayor of Hessisch Oldendorf, Harald Krueger, the village officials plant a cherry tree (Latin: Ceresia, a possible derivation for Zersen). "This is your tree," said Heidi Fruehwald, to enthusiastic applause. Again and again the guests say "Thank you"for this generous appreciation from the community.
Todd Zersen (44) traveled with his father and his sister from Seattle to learn more about his heritage and his name's meaning. After the many hours spent together, he said, "I feel like we have the same genes and we are one family." Bernd Stoltmann from Berlin, a "married in"Zersen , has been at three Zersen reunions with his wife Karin (2003 in Seattle, 2008 in Colorado and 2011 in Zersen). "Despite high costs for those who take such extensive trips, something like this is really necessary," he explains. He is fascinated that so many children explore their roots and that their interaction is so uncomplicated.
On the last evening, a festival mood reigns, with applause, laughter and much photography. Again and again fingers are placed on the wall to determine family connections. Even Helmut Klausing, regional mayor of the five Hohenstein villages, is present, and convinced that he is related to the Zersens.
In the Memorial Church in Fischbeck marvelous song rings out again from Zersen throats as they visit the church's crypt. Then Dietland Rank and Heidi Fruehwald share another surprise: an epitaph in the cloister from the last Roman Catholic abbess, Maria von Szersen.
When it was time to say good-bye, Dr. David Zersen, co-organizer of the reunion, assures the members of the seventh generation descended from Johann Heinrich Zersen, "We'd like to see the tradition of family reunions continue." And again and again one could hear it said, "It was great that we were able to be here." David Zersen replies, "Perhaps we'll see you then at the next reunion in Chicago?"