[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12660]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          FRIENDSHIP CONTRACT

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today I would like to share an amazing 
story of friendship--a friendship that has blossomed over the past 17 
years between the cities of Aalen and Dewangen, Germany, and the town 
of Webster in my home State of South Dakota.
  In 1986, a group of wrestlers from Dewangen toured South Dakota for 3 
weeks. During that time, local South Dakotan communities held 
exhibition matches, providing both South Dakota and this group of 
wrestlers an opportunity to display their skills and learn from each 
other.
  Before making their final departure, the wrestlers made their final 
stop in Webster, where they were welcomed wholeheartedly. Individual 
friendships between the wrestlers and members of the Webster community 
formed immediately. In the 17 years following their initial visit, 
members of the wrestling group from Aalen and Dewangen returned to 
Webster to renew their relationships with the Webster community.
  In 1999, Webster Mayor Mike Grosek decided it was time to pay his 
friends in Dewangen a visit. During his visit, members of the Dewangen 
community talked excitedly about a possible friendship contract between 
the two cities, and within the last 4 years informal discussions led to 
an official declaration. On April 5, a group of 16 individuals from 
Webster were on hand for the historic signing ceremony in Dewangen, and 
it is my pleasure to announce that a similar ceremony will occur in 
Webster on May 31. I am confident that the friendship forged between 
them will endure for many years to come, and I wish to extend my 
congratulations to all involved in making these momentous occasions 
possible.

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