BERLIN CELEBRATES KENNEDY ANNIVERSARY
Berliners are commemorating the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s historic “Ich bin ein Berliner”speech, which he delivered on June 26, 1963, in front of Berlin’s Rathaus Schöneberg. During the hot phase of the Cold War in what was then West-Berlin, Kennedy underscored American support for the divided Germany 22 months after East Germany erected the Berlin Wall. To this day, the most famous words ever spoken by a US president on German soil still resonate deeply with Berliners and are regarded as the basis of the strong bond between the citizens of Berlin and the USA. From April 30 until June 29, a city-wide program will highlight the historic visit, including the photo exhibition “Kennedy in Berlin”at the Wall Memorial (April 4 – November), and the special exhibition “‘Ich bin ein Berliner’- Kennedy’s Germany visit in June of 1963,”shown at the museum The Kennedys (June 20 until Sept. 29). Special events at the Allied Museum, the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, the U.S. Embassy and other location will complement the program. From 1949 until the reunification of Germany and Berlin in 1990, Schöneberg city hall was the seat of the Berlin mayor. Kennedy gave his 1963 speech front of the former city hall on the square, which was later named after him and to this day remains the “John-F-Kennedy Platz”. The Kennedy anniversary events lead up to the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which will be celebrated in 2014. (http://www.visitberlin.com)
