Special Event!

**A Hay** · 8th February 11, 11:27 AM

Monday afternoon I met the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel.

The occasion was that she landed in her helicopter at our small US Army base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. I am Acting Garrison Manager for a few weeks so it fell to me to greet her when she alighted.

We had a photographer nearby and she asked if we would like a group picture.
She is an experienced politician.

From left to right are: Ms. Winter, public affairs assistant and translator, myself, Chancellor Merkel, and First Sergeant McKee on our staff.

The whole event lasted maybe 60 seconds and then she got into her car and departed, after a brief rest stop at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, off the base to an arena in downtown Garmisch for the opening ceremony of the World Master Ski Cup. She took off from the base a couple of hours after arrival.

Not a kilted event, but I felt honored to represent the USA, along with a serving Soldier and one of our German Employees.

Opportunities like this don't come along very often in life, and now that it is over, I will look back on it fondly.

Although outwardly calm, inside I was almost too nervous to sit still!

Regards,

Tom
A_Hay!