| What is a Military Brat? |
Most of us lived in Heidelberg sometime during the period that spanned the Cold War. As a result, we experienced life defined by the greater context of the division between East and West. Even the Lions stationed in Heidelberg after the fall of the Iron Curtain were/are a part of that scenery as the post Cold War Heidelberg witnessed the reconnection of East and West Germany. I may be wrong, but on some level, I am sure that we could all sense that we were part of something bigger than ourselves This deeper sense of commitment is an area of common ground that we all share. Until about 1990, the world was polarized and our families were a part of maintaining Western security and global balance. At some point during our travels, that mission brought us to the beautiful city of Heidelberg and gave us a unique bond that was a background to our high school experience, during a moment in history that no longer exists. We had strong connections to each other (and still do) that may not have been apparent at the time. We share something special. As (mostly) dependants of the Military, we attended an exceptional high school, in a beautiful city in the heart of Europe during the middle of a tense game of nuclear politics and strategy. It was a rare time that would pull us together in ways that would last significantly longer than our overseas tour. The Lions in Heidelberg today also are connected in similar ways and continue to show how remarkable that experience is. This year at the funeral of a Heidelberg Lion, John Dodge, I was struck by how significant these relationships are. John was surrounded by loved ones and family, but it was Sandra Paguia ('83) who got up to speak. She talked about knowing John more than 25 years ago as kids playing marbles together. She mentioned the other Heidelbergers who hung out together at that time - the Maxons, Courlises, Hamms..and the Paguias. She recalled that experience in such a significant way, as a fabric of her life and a memory that was still close to her. RIcky Denburg, his sister and Mom had flown from Heidelberg to be there and during the week other Heidelbergers shared their thoughts, memories and support. Francisco and Jenny Hamm, Ron Shun, Johnny Overcast, Marcus Carpenter, to name a few. There are many more who can be added to this list. John's family, friends and wife are all now adopted into the Heidelberg family and there are more adoptees out there. Many spouses are such a part of the Heidelberg family, that it can be easy to forget they did not go to school with us. Teri and Terry VanWormer and Angela and Tad Lawson are the first two couples that come to mind, but there are more out there. As a school that has been open since 1946, we all continue to share ourselves with each other and with the world. Pretty amazing group of people - especially considering the short span of time we spent together. DOD schools all over Europe have closed and there are rumors that soon Heidelberg American High School will graduate its last class. Hopefully, we can keep the spirit of Heidelberg alive in the years to come. Keep connected, share your experiences, go to reunions, cherish the friendships that are old and new. As many of you have already discovered, Heidelberg exists in each one of us. Whenever we can...lets keep that spirit alive. © Connie Uthoff, 2006 |
CHARACTERISTICS OF A BRAT:
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| Heidelberg Brats - |
| What is a Military Brat? |
"Military brat is an informal term in American English for a child who has one or both parents who serves or served full-time in the military. It implies that such an upbringing is different in important ways from that experienced by those in the community at large, and can be an insult or a compliment, depending on the context. Although brat is usually taken to mean a spoiled child, military brats are usually considered more disciplined than their civilian peers." Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_brat" |
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