Hans Dietrich Genscher State Ceremony on Sunday
Bonn · Long time foreign minister and German reunification architect to be buried on Sunday.
A State Memorial Service will take place on Sunday to honor former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher who passed away on March 31 at the age of 89. Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker will speak, as will German president Joachim Gauck, former Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and Theologian Friedrich Schorlemmer. On the guest list are 1,000 names.
The State Memorial Service will be held at the WCCB in the former German parliament chambers. It will be aired at 12 noon on ZDF television. From 8:00 a.m until 4:00 p.m., there will be some streets and areas closed off in that area known as the “Bundesviertel” (Government Quarters). Bike and pedestrian paths on Stresemannufer are also closed during that time. The B9 will remain open. North Rhine Westphalia has order flags to fly at half mast.
Genscher was well known as an architect of German reunification and served 18 years as Foreign Minister for Germany. He was a long time resident of Bonn and passed away at his home in Wachtberg. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, children and grandchildren. There will be a private church service for him at the Protestant church in Wachtberg followed by his burial at the Rheinhöhenfriedhof (cemetary) in Ließem.
Orig. text: Lisa Inhoffen
