Dear members, dear friends,

Today we want to report on a number of highlights of the Count von Luckner Year 2006. We celebrated the count's 125th birthday in a dignified way. We will publish more pictures soon.
 
The events started on June 8, 2006 at 9 a.m. with the opening of special post office at the Franckesche Stiftungen. Many people stood patiently lined up to get hold of the postal envelope with special stamp and postmark and also to buy our commemorative medal which was also introduced on this occasion. A great success! The Franckesche Stiftungen proved to be an excellent host in every respect and we wish to express our warm gratitude. Also many thanks to the philatelists, who had organized a perfect exhibition and were our good partners!

See more pictures from Franckesche Stiftungen

In the evening there was a champagne reception at the Apart Hotel in Halle. We welcomed Mr. M. Rousek, vice consular general of the USA in Leipzig, together with his wife as our guest of honour. In the hotel the "Count von Luckner parlor" was presented to our visitors. Peter Rüdiger from the Halle accordion band provided the music for our event. Also here the sale of the special postal envelope was continued and Dieter Stephan as the representative of the German Mail joined our society as a new member.

See more pictures from Apart Hotel in Halle

By the way the medal was minted in a limited edition. For more information see under the link "Souvenirs". Orders will be gratedfully accepted !!!

The actual birthday, June 9th, was quietly spent because on this day football (soccer) was the absolute king and ruled the world.

On June 10th a number of us travelled to Pennrich, the place where Count von Luckner spent his childhood. We were warmly welcomed and the event started with a gala performance. We learned a lot of interesting things about the count's childhood and his life in general.

See more pictures from Pennrich

Afterwards we walked to his parent's house where a commemorative plaque - attached on an erratic block - was unveiled. First of all we owe this to the activities of Siegmar Bunk. Really this is a phantastic implementation of a dignified tribute to the Count. We had a look around his parent's house and its vicinity, enjoying the restored yard. A place which deply captivated our interest.

See more pictures from von Luckner's parent's house

Afterwards we travelled to Altfranken, where a competent guide showed us round the Luckner chapel. It was a fascinating experience, although no direct relatives of the count have found their last place of rest in this chapel, because we must differentiate between two Lucker lines, i.e. the Pennrichter and the Altfrankener line. However, they have the same roots. A visit of the castle grounds showed that unfortunately the chateau has completely gone after its demolition in 1938. Only two columns have survived and on top of one of them a proud lion is mourning the good old golden times.

See more pictures from Luckner chapel

A wonderful day with glorious weather - thoroughly enjoyed by everybody - ended. Please, make sure to visit our website to look at the pictures to be seen in our website soon, a lot of wonderful impressions. Now we are back to normal "daily grind" and first of all the sale of medals is "on the program".Let's tackle it!    
 
Best regards from Halle to all of our members and friends in the world.
 
Matthias J. Maurer
President
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Felix Count von Luckner Society
Bernburger Str.7
D-06108 Halle a.d. Saale
Germany
Tel.: +49 (345) 2926722
Fax: +49 (345) 2926723
www.luckner-society.com
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