"THE ZERSEN AFTERGLOW"

August 8, 2011

A wrap-up of activities pertaining to

The July, 2011 "Zersen Reunion"

In "ZERSEN" - Germany

What a wonderful reunion! What hospitality from our cousins in Europe! What fantastic relatives I have!

I want to thank everyone for coming and for the participation and support David received--even from many who did not make it to the reunion in "Zersen."

This is the 3^rd "Afterglow" letter that I have put together. After writing it I place a hard copy in the "Zersen" photo album that I started some 8 years ago. Each reunion has its own section in the back of the album starting with the 2003 Reunion in Bellingham, the 2008 Reunion in Colorado and now the 2011 Reunion in Zersen, Germany. Since I find that it is so easy to rapidly forget many details, I try to put this overview of the Reunion together as soon as possible after I get home. I thank all the people who have emailed me their thoughts on the reunion. All the inputs will be incorporated either in this letter or as an attachment to this letter - but, still part of the album. Plus, I will email everyone with a copy of this letter and any attachments for their info.

So, to begin, regarding the reunion, some statistics! We had some 95 reunion attendees. Everyone couldn't stay the whole time, but 95 people showed up. Forty-seven (47) were from Germany and Thirty-eight (38) were from the U.S. Lists of attendees are attached to this letter.

Several members of my family first went to Copenhagen for a reunion of relatives on my mother's side of the family. We had a great time there, but not everything went smoothly! Departing Copenhagen via train (21 July), we arrived late at the ferry terminal so we had about a 20-25 minute wait. That wait made us late trying to catch the next train in Hamburg. As we got to the next train (with all our baggage - and let me tell you, some of the bags were really heavy!), the train doors closed in front of us. Two seconds earlier and I could have jammed the doors with my foot. So, we needed to take the next train and finally got into Hannover about 30 minutes late.

For those of you that don't know, the first four (4) cars of the train rolled right onto the ferry - big, big ferry!

I rented a nine (9) passenger van in Hannover and we proceeded to drive to the Pappmuehle. However, we actually had 10 passengers and everyone's baggage. There were eight (8) of us coming from Copenhagen, and two (2) people joined us who had taken a train from Berlin to Hannover.

Our time in "Zersen" was wonderful! I really enjoyed meeting new people, and, even though it was difficult to speak with a lot of them, everyone pretty much was able to understand each other.

So, instead of making this a really long letter, let me just list all (most) of the things that we did, and allow each of your memories to fill in the details:

Climbing the Hohenstein--Seeing Detlev and Takako von Zerssen climbing the mountain with Detlev using his ski poles to help him--and Juergen right along side of him. Looking out over the countryside from the altar on top of the hill! Seeing a map about half way up that had the name "Texas" on it! And no fences at the top of the cliff! I can imagine what the area would have looked like if it was in the U.S.-- all sort of security measures so that no one could fall off the cliff!

Tour of Zersen--The leaders of the town coming out to make it a very memorable day providing us a lot of information that at least I never knew. And eventually some of relatives after the Weser River cruise going back to Zersen to plant a cherry tree! Stopping at the Zersen sign upon entering the town and having our pictures taken next to it!

Trip to Hameln--seeing the Pied Piper and his story of how some 120 (130?) children disappeared from Hameln in about 1602! And getting a tour of the old town which was absolutely beautiful!

Cruise on the Weser River--the beautiful German countryside and excellent meal.

Haddeson--the wonderful coffee and kuchen that Edith and Peter and Gudrun put together for all of us! I've got to think that I ate about 3,000-4,000 calories that afternoon!!!!! And, I need to give a special thanks to Peter for leading us all around to the various places that we had to go. You would almost think that we were in a funeral procession with some 12-15 cars all following each other.

Hamelspringe--how about seeing the house where Cord Zersen lived! Cord was the earliest Zersen that we can identify ourselves with. However, based on information in a booklet from the St. Marien Church in Hessich-Oldendorf where a Zersen, Ritter Arnd Zersen, is referenced as to being there from 1351 to 1401, I wonder if we have now found another link to generations prior to Cord.

Pappmuehle - the great food and (for some) the wild evenings after most of us had gone to bed! Obviously these revelers were not of my generation! And our memorable dinners together. Many thanks to David and Juergen and Petra for their translation ability and patience to help everyone understand what was being said.

I must mention the giving of the plate that had the "Zersen Crest" on it to Hans-Dietrich von Zerssen who still has the original crest in his possession. And who can forget Julie and Ruth leading us in the "Schnitzelbank" song on Friday and Saturday evenings!

So now I wait for all of the bills to flow in--as many of us are doing the same. I can only believe that I need to start saving for the next reunion which hopefully will be in Chicago in 2014. I will be excited to see everyone again! We have a great family! Let us keep in touch with one another during the intervening years