European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 29, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                April 1977 the stars and stripes Page 9 Joy along weekend memory trails editors not los a rare Satur Day or sunday when staffer Tom wife son and daughter do not take part in a Here Are some of Toms remembrances from Vulk searches Pam a turnout of thou Sands for the Bicentennial March and the Beautiful medal being a German Fife and drum corps in colonial costumes marches from the Woods playing Yankee a Clown walks the route backwards from finish to Start so that he faces All the by the finish he is sweating so badly in his hot costume that his makeup is streaked and dripping from his Winkel the route is up a Steep Hill through vineyards to a Woods at the a Light rain is falling As most of the March ers Start about Halfway up the Hill the sky rain comes Down in sheets and a terrific wind blows away umbrellas and drives the rain straight at the March children scream in panic and there is no shelter in the the route is suddenly a grasping River of mud but finally the wind and rain strip and the marchers plod cursing he mud a tall but badly handicapped German is on the Llis Nghil Side is mostly paralysed and to lie swings his right leg stiffly then ahead off his we wonder him he Complete his Handicap id or he is faster than our two toddlers and he passes us in he a half hour later we catch him he has fallen and is covered with mud he dips a Small handkerchief in a puddle and pathetically wipes at the mud on his use less right Side reason he is trying to clean his coat sleeve although his lire is caked with mud the marchers pass nut knowing whether to offer perhaps offending him we continue Down Hill through the mud later we hear a thump and groan behind us we turn and he Lias caught up with but has fallen with his Good left Arm he grabs a thin Pine and slowly pulls himself from the mud i Start Back to help but my wife stops me he wants m do it she says he has Ondr at the finish marchers nun 1 him Anil shake his sit Iem hand the Day Kaslor Hin freds of americans arc the marchers taking advantage in the he k tip twi it evian in Day alter in neat in Osweiler there been Ine Nueil Sara Ali but Siili Jenlih it a True in mid april it to the is a m la stir than ram and tin Fores is like a German Mas card with heavy Snow in the Pines the medal is a Scarini a picture two Birds its a Ami when we arrive at 10 a m Grec plated cars Are already having to Park As much As Twu Kilometres from tin Start As we walk to the in Theiler where the Inarah us pass Many amen ran i Mien carrying our and five cd the plates Back to their cars i ask a run pc of them Why  make i inst runs Une says i plan to use them As a Ira says another meet a Halm am tin Pijie he he Mirt plans use he Plaus As of Rimor presents they never seen this in the he in i Are Areni a and she 1 i in a in Iwin Lanir we it in the to Iii i Shiv the car is surrounded a it Istrin on their Way to the finish Kond runners Are under the in the leaning into the they try to Loriato the then suggest i return to the March finish Point and see if theres a Mechanic in the crowd a Good idea i ask and there is be accompanies me to the Lucatos the trouble quickly a broken Cable drives me to a town about 10 Miles gels the garage to open up sunday afternoon and sell him a new drives me Back to the ear and works about 45 minutes installing he refuses any that a Volks March fut i Here Are happier re Mem the kind that keep Volksen archers Oil the Trail week after week the spectacular Beauty of the Rhein As seen from the checkpoint at Goar the pin carpeted rails through the Odin Wald the Kilometre after Kilometre trek through the dense Woods of the Black Forest until there suddenly you Are on the roof of the Mountain and All around lies the Beauty of the thousands of Trees in Blossom in the Spring and in breathtaking color in the the spotless Meadows and sparkling White villages of Bavaria the dozens of sunday morning walks in Hills surrounding tiny villages when suddenly the Church Bells begin ring ing and echoing through those Hills to announce another gods Day and while villagers in those  towns Are stirring in their Beds or putting on their sunday Best to attend a service in one of those thousands of unknown visitors from thousands of Miles away have a Chance to worship god in their own Way if they wish in the Green clean fresh and unforgettable scenery of the land that Tom Koser the Rhein heaven above an american Rupli starts to unload the of Ungs Nunier of the family As the arrive at a Vulk Smarr checkpoint overlooking the Rhein River at is besides getting March cards jumped at this Scenic the group wanderers can take time to enjoy a Light snack at a nearby refresh ment Sis Utah Larkin vol Smarch popularity is booming f Hwi and the d area Arl sults tile l Evell Bike Rij Iii Many this and Vuil in of a cure if u Are not interested in collecting a Hale exercise and of get your fill scenery my postcards there instil to Irv at least walk in the some of cd ape Calilung yet the their Heuse clutching their As they set out on a 10k hike Hie Nin Iier Wiio go charging offering hut a Brief glimpse of the writ ing on their the Lului Ristum  and with kids on their backs and dogs jumping at their i Temple Lxi Are Cut Nervd with patches earned by walk ing and running great distances germans in knickers who Wirry walking 1eople wearing backed picks March i mania has gotten to ilk All