By: 25 News’ Taylor Fleming
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Peoria is marking half a century of friendship with its sister city in Germany this week.
Leaders from Friedrichshafen, located in southern Germany near Lake Constance, are visiting the River City through June 7. A celebration dinner was held Thursday night at the Gateway Building to honor the milestone, according to 25 News.
The relationship between Peoria and Friedrichshafen began through international business connections but has grown into a lasting friendship over the decades.
One of the most valued elements of the partnership is a youth exchange program that sends German teenagers to the United States and Peoria teens to Germany for three weeks in alternating years.
Sister City Commission Chairman Patrick Roesler said the partnership carries special significance in today’s world.
“Especially today, when the world can seem quite far apart, organizations like ours and the relationships that we continue to build are critically important,” Roesler said.
Thursday’s celebration also recognized the volunteers who have kept the friendship alive over the years, including those involved with the Peoria Club in Germany and the Friends of Friedrichshafen in Central Illinois.
The public is invited to meet the visiting delegation at Sommerfest, hosted by the German American Central Society. The event is Saturday, June 7 from noon to 8 p.m. at Hickory Grove Park in Dunlap.
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