About our Flag
In 1949 the first election was held, and there the Gebirgstrachten- Verein Edelweiss - Reading was born. Frank Kasprowicz was the first president, his brother Alfred the first 1.Vorplattler. Honorary life memberships were bestowed upon the following for their instrumental help in organizing the group: Joseph Flock, Benno Hoerl, Alois Sager, Norbert Knott, and Hans Goetz.
After only o
ne
year, in 1950, the proud group was able to purchase its flag due to the
financial support of Albert
Walschburger.
Benno Hoerl went to Germany to bring the flag back to Reading. On May 5, 1951,
G.T.V. Edelweiss held its Fahnenweihe
at the Rajah Temple on North Sixth Street in Reading, Pennsylvania. The day was
made a total success
by
the participation of ten visiting dance groups. G.T.V. Almrausch Philadelphia
became our PatenVerein. Father
Wachter blessed the
flag; Mrs. William Findeisen was the Fahnenmutter; and Eleanore Findeisen and
Rosmarie Holzapfel were the Fahnenjungfrauen.
In
the late 1980's the flag was damaged from a water leak in the old Reading
Liederkranz clubhouse. T
he
flag was sent back to Fahnen Kossinger in Germany, the original manufacturer of
the flag, for repairs. As G.T.V. Edelweiss - Reading approached its 50. Jubiläum in 1999
it was learned that the repairs had been extensive enough to warrant a new
Fahnenweihe, rather than just a rededication of the flag as originally planned.
So on September 4, 1999, as part of its 50. Jubiläum celebration, G.T.V.
Edelweiss - Reading again held a Fahnenweihe. This time it was held at St. Peter's Roman
Catholic Church on Fifth Avenue in Reading with Father Kuzman officiating. Our
PatenVerein, G.T.V. Almrausch of Philadelphia, was there as was our Patenkind,
Enzian Volkstanzgruppe of Newark, Delaware. Inge Weiss became our Fahnenmutter;
Fahnenbände were also presented by our Kindergruppe and the associated clubs at
the Reading Liederkranz. The 50. Jubiläum mit Fahnenweihe was attended by 600+
Trachtlers from Canada, Texas, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Washington DC, New York, Connecticut, and Germany.
This page was last updated 08/07/06