European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday november 22, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 3 town takes a Gander at history 3 americans join dutch in heritage fest by Ken Clauson Bremerhaven Bureau co Vorden Netherlands clothed in a Long skirt and cloak knit hat and wooden shoes Bonnie do male looks As though she could have just stepped out of the 19th Century with her Basket of Corn and a stick As she coaxed and prodded a few dozen geese to the town Market Square. Bonnie and two other americans joined 31 Young dutch girls dressed in traditional costumes for the a mini miss Goose girls contest during the towns annual heritage festival nov. 11. The americans entered the 6-to-ll-year-old category. Girls 12 to 15 competed in another category. The girls were rated on the authenticity of Meir costumes and their poise in front of a crowd. Six year old Bonnie who is barely bigger than a Goose herself placed second in her age group. Co Vorden mayor Bert Spahr Van Der Hoek said the town was once known for its Winter markets where geese were sold for shipment to England for the holidays. A co Vorden is an old regional Center a he said. A in medieval times it was on the route from the North to the South of Holland or to  the town is situated on the old routes through the moors and was surrounded by farms. The town name Means a cow Bridge a he said. A because we had so Many Farmers who raised a lot of geese they brought them to the Market in co Vorden. After the second world War we tried to revive the Market but it did no to work out a he said. A thirty years ago the merchants wanted to do something to attract people to the City so we started the festival. From time to time american children Are involved and its great for us and great for  r. A. A amps photo by Ken Clauton mini miss Goose girl contestants m authentic costumes and townsfolk gather around geese in co Vorden Netherlands. The winners of the two age groups dress in the traditional clothing and present Flowers to visiting dignitaries throughout the following year he said. Bonnie and the other american girls Caitlin Mcdonough 7, and Christina Melendrez 8, attend classes at Park school an elementary school in co Vorden with both dutch and american pupils. The pupils Are separated by nationality for most classes but attend music and gym classes together and perform together in school musicals. To prepare for the Competition girls had to study the history of the town and its Market. Christina who placed third last year is Quick to explain what its All about. A a Long time ago the mothers used to Send the girls out with the geese in november on monday a she said. A and they would Herd the geese to Market where they would put them on a boat and take them to  part of the Competition took place in a nearby hotel ballroom where the girls walked on a carpeted runway in front of the judges and a packed audience. Then the group of contestants herded the geese through crowded streets to the Market Square. There the girls answered questions by a master of ceremonies. Bonnie said she entered the Competition a because we re going to walk geese and i like  she admitted she had never really been close to one before a but in be seen  the americans were coached by Gonnie Soonberg Abbing their Host nation teacher from school who said the costumes were authentic. A most of the clothes arc rented but some have part of the things from their grandmothers a she said. A until 1925 or 1930, most of the women were wearing these clothes  aside from learning a bit of history and being properly dressed the hardest part of the preparation was learning to walk she said. A they have to learn to walk in wooden shoes because that a difficult for Csc one not Only for the american girls Quot she said. As she clutched her trophy Bonnie said that was the hardest part of the Day. A a it a hard to walk in them a cause my toes  six year old american Bonnie Dumale earned second place in the 6-to-l 1-year-old category of the Goose con Bonnie Dumale Center White hat and other contestants Wear Long skirts bonnets and wooden shoes test