European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 8, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Page the stars and stripes thursday january 8. 1987 americans join Grenadier Garde ceremonial unit brings history tradition to life e1s photo by t icy Bihar i sell. Mike von Grey left and spec. 4 ton Lom in Grenadier uniforms. By Daryl e. Bureau Pir Masens Germany Many sol liners join inc army to Sec the world. A couple of soldiers stationed in the Parma sons area joined iwo armies so they could see twice As much of Germany. Get to Sec a lot of Germany and a lot of the area said spec. J Tony Lowe Adala processor assigned to the general support Center Pir Masens and the local Kontak coordinator. Kong at is a Usa eur program dedicated to bring ing Young germans and americans to Gether. A get to find out a Little More intimately what some of these local traditions arc All about he said. Lowe and 1st it. Mike von Grey Bat Talion chemical officer for the 3rd Ord once the Only americans in the Grcina firm Sens the 20-Man Gre Nadier Ardc is a ceremonial unit that tra Ces in historical background to the private armies of Ludwig in i to ruled Pir Masi is from Llie Early 1780s until his death in 1790 one of the local traditions the Grena Diers arc called on to support is the open ing of the Fashing season. The season traditionally begins on the 11 lit hour of the t Ith Day of the 11 tit month and runs through Fasching tuesday the Day be fore Ash wednesday. This season Fasch ing ends March 3, Pir Masens was originally founded As a Grenadier Post so we re reliving the old tradition of having grenadiers around Lowe said As he gently tugged on the Silver buttons of his regal White ceremonial uniform. The grenadiers were the private army of Ludwig in and now in i a piece of Pir Masens Lowe said. It s a piece of the history of this City part of this history is evident in the two different uniforms the grenadiers wore at inc Fasching Kicko to. Lowe wow the White uniform with red Collar and cuffs White Laccy neck White pants and White leggings. Von Grey dressed in the Blue uniform accented with red trim Ming Gold buttons and red and Silver piping. He too wore White pants and White leggings. The Blue uniforms Are from Prussia and the White uniforms Are from Austria said Karl Schuett jr., Grena Dier commander. The reason for inc two uniforms is that Ludwig served in the prussian array and then later the austrian army Schuetz said. Ceremonial units such As the Grena Diers Are not unique. But few have the historical roots of the firm Sens soldiers Schuetz said. Our soldiers have historical tuck ground. The other ones Are Only made for he said. That historical background includes the role the grenadiers played in Pirr Ria Sers now being recognized As a major producer of shoes in Germany. When Ludwig died the army was Dis banded. And from the old uniforms they made shoes Schuetz said. And now Parma sons is the shoe Metropolis of Germany Voa Grey said. The grenadiers have become an accepted and cherished part of the Pir masons Community since their revival in 1958 by Karl Schwetz or and he iwo american members Are readily accepted in the otherwise German outfit. We Are very Happy and proud to have american soldiers in our private army Schuetz said. This feeling of Pride and appreciation is returned by the american soldiers. The camaraderie with the other grenadiers is important of course von Grey said. And we re seeing Germany in a Way that other soldiers can t. We re like honorary germans when we do bikes bands Beer headline Bremen Bash byjoe Mapother Bremen Germany Beer Bare bellied Brazil Ian dancers and bicycles Combine today for the opening of six Days of night racing lha promoters arc Billing As the Best attended indoor Bike race in he world. Some of the world s Best bicyclists will occupy Center stage in the 23rd running of inc Bremen six Day race that is expected to draw 120,000 spectators who Are expected to consume 200,000 glasses of Beer. The annual event in the Bremen Siad Thalac is combination sporting event and pcs rival a single admission Price allows spectators to wander Between music acts and the races thai begin each evening and to reach Imo the wee hours of inc morning. Belgian Patrick Sercu a four time Winner of the Bremen race and the record Holder for six Day race wins on German tracks 35. Retired from Active racing four years ago. He is in his second year As an organizer of the Bremen race. The sin Day race is an idea that came to Europe from North America Sercu said. Originally the formal called for two Man teams to race around the clock for six Days. The Winner was the team with the most circuits around the track. Sercu 42, remembers those Days. It was almost inhuman Sercu said. Six Days and six nights without sleep. Then the bicyclists Only ran three or four races a season because they had to sleep for almost a week afterwards Sercu said. With the rules changes that set up a series of races each night a conditioned bicyclist can race As Many As a do in Sii Day races during the season which runs from mid october to mid March Sercu said. The Large number of spectators the Bremen race traditionally attracts has the advantage of allowing promoters to attract top Quality Competition by of Fering appearance Money. Twelve two Man teams each of which is normally accompanied by three supporting Crew members will share nearly 1200,000 in appearance Money. Sercu said. About $160, in prize Money has been put up he said. The prize Money is divided based on inc number of Points wort in a wide Varicy of races. The races Range from Quick sprints to a 75-Minuie, Hunt and Chase finale most of the evening races begin at 8 . And end Between 2 . And 4 . Eight or nine hours is a Long time for spectators to sit still. That is one reason acts have been booked into adjacent Halls at the Slad Halle. Behind the main train station in Bremen. This year the acts include the Frankfurt oldies Rock v Roll band fats and his cats and the Edan Jope band. Seven brazilian dancers tangas of Bra Zil will perform As part of the Las vegas show. Bicyclists however Are he headliners. Germany s Didi thurau with 22 victories and Australia s Danny Clark with 40 victories Combine to make one of this year s favorite teams not to be counted out Are Frenchman Laurent mignon tour de France Winner in 1983 and 1984, and englishman Anthony Doyle. The starting Lime thursday is 9 . All other Days the races begin at 8 ., with the exception of sunday. A morning 10 . Fruch Schoppen racing program of amateurs and an evening program 8 . Arc on to sunday. Evening ticket prices vary based on the evening and Type of Seal. Standing room tickets Start at 25 Marks about 113. Seals Range in Price from 28 Marks about $14.10 to 48 Marks about 125.10. Tickets Are available at the Box office and through Normal ticket outlet
