Selected Events in 2006

U.S. Ambassador Timken Serves Thanksgiving Dinner to the Homeless at Berliner Stadtmission

Ambassador Timken and his wife Sue served a Thanksgiving dinner to homeless people at the Berliner Stadtmission at its Hauptbahnhof center on November 23, 2006. Following an American tradition, the Ambassador and Mrs. Timken personally served five large stuffed turkeys to their homeless guests on the occasion of Thanksgiving. Employees of the U.S. Embassy and the Ambassador's residence helped to prepare and serve the dinner.

It was the second time the U.S. Ambassador hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for homeless people. More than 100 homeless guests thanked him and his wife.

Thanksgiving, the American version of the German "Erntedankfest," is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Many Americans take the Friday off and use the long weekend to drive long distances to spend the day with their families and friends.

Thanksgiving Day goes back to the time when the pilgrim fathers settled in America. After the first harsh winter in the New World, in which approximately half of them died, they asked the neighboring Indian tribes for help. The Indians showed them how to grow corn and other indigenous plants. The abundant harvest in the following year prompted the pilgrims to celebrate Thanksgiving.

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