This
is how the Brandenburg Gate looked back in the Bad Old Days. The Wall cut
in front of the Gate and you couldn't get close to the Gate from either
side. This picture is taken from the West looking East.
This is what the Wall looks like now in front of the Brandeburg
Gate. The writing on the stones says "Berliner Mauer 1961-1989)
This is me standing in the same spot you see above and in
reference to the Brandenburg Gate. Its November 9, 1999 and I'm way happy.
I still have the beer glass I'm holding there.
Another picture of the Brandenburg Gate. The Mauerfalle
ceremonies are on the other side and you can see the stage in orange through
the Gate on the right side.
This is how the Wall memorial looks as it goes underneath
the Reichstag, the German parliament building. Hitler burned this building
down to steal power in the 30's. The Wall ran right underneath it. There
is still Soviet graffitti on the walls inside from 1945. The current German
government can't escape their history.
After
Gerhard Schroeder spoke, they blew off fireworks and lit flares where the
Wall used to be. I dearly love this photo. If you want to see this picture
in all its glory, click on it.
When that
was done, The Scorpions played Winds of Change with the Berlin Philharmonic
backing them up. They later played a free concert on the same stage. (George
and Barbara Bush's hotel suite faced the stage and the show was at 11:00
P.M. on a Tuesday. I'm sure they didn't sleep much)
This is me at the Marienfelde refugee camp.
I wanted to go back to the exact spot I was standing when I found out the
Wall had come down. Imagine my surprise when I found a piece of the Wall
in that exact spot. I think you can see the surprise in my face.
The
refugee camp used to be a controlled military area of the US Army. This
sign used to be out in front of the camp and they meant it. This is now
in a small museum in the camp. Mike and I had a great time visiting the
camp and the curator was very happy to see us.
This is what is left of Checkpoint Charlie.
The museum is still there, but, obviously, the Checkpoint isn't. To
show
where the US and Soviet checkpoints were, they put up large pictures of
a US MP and a Soviet soldier. This is me signing off for the last time.
I am no longer a soldier and the mission was accomplished. Damn it still
feels good!
A heartfelt thanks to Mike
for taking these pictures and talking me into going on this trip. As long
as I live, I'll never be able to express how much this trip meant (but I
think you already know).
Important web pages:
http://www.berlinbrigade.com
A site that means much to me. A great tribute to those of us who served
over there. Has many, many pictures from 1945-1994 and now.
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/berlinbrigadewallwatchers
A Yahoo club devoted to all things Berlin Brigade, although its open to
anyone, really. People who lived in Berlin posting their stories and thoughts.
If you were there, a meander through the postings will bring back LOTS of
memories.