Volume 24, No. 9 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 9 May 2008 VIPs transit E-3A Component By SMSgt. Johan Hijmenberg The International Charlemagne prize is a distinction that has been awarded annually since 1950 to individuals who have made contributions to European unification. The prize, which consists of a certificate, a bronze medal and a monetary award, was awarded this year to the German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel. Dr. Merkel received the prize on 1 May in the historical Coronation Hall of Aachen, where the Emperor Charlemagne had used to hold his court NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen is often used as intermediate station for the invited guests for landing German Chancellor Dr. Angela and departure. On 30 April and Merkel (right) is welcomed after 1 May, Dr. Merkel and the following landing on 30 April by E-3A distinguished persons set foot at Component Commander Brig. the E-3 Component on their way to Gen. Stephen Schmidt and his Aachen: King of Spain Juan Carlos wife Sarah, and Base Support I; former Italian President Mr. Carlo Wing Commander Col. Reinhard Azeglio Ciampi and the President of Mack (left). France, Nicolas Sarkozy The International Charlemagne prize of Aachen symbolizes the European Spirit of the city, which was of pivotal importance in early European history. Aachen, with its hot springs, became the capital and chief residence of the legendary Charlemagne, King of the Franks. He was emperor from 800 to 814 over an empire which stretched a great part of Western Europe. Charlemagne was the example for the surrounding nations by the way he succeeded to bring unity in the big empire with its diversity of nations, languages and cultures. Other award recipients in the past have been German Chancellor King of Spain Juan Carlos I Konrad Adenauer, the British Prime took the opportunity to meet Minister Winston Churchill, Queen members of the Spanish Beatrix of the Netherlands, French community on base. President Francois Mitterand and Photos Hay Janssen German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. 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For more Details call our authorized agents. www.BavarianMotorCars.de E-Mail: [email protected] WÜRZBURG SCHWEINFURT VILSECK Louis-Pasteur-Str. 14 Amsterdam-Str. 3 Sorghof, Gut 3 97076 Würzburg 97424 Schweinfurt 92249 Vilseck Phone 0931 27885 892 Phone 09721 67527 35 Phone 09662 8779 Phone 0931 27885 890 Phone 09721 67527 32 GARMISCH ANSBACH GRAFENWÖHR I Zugspitz Str. 118 Rudolf Diesel Str. 2 am Gründerzentrum 5 82467 Garmisch 91522 Ansbach 92655 Grafenwöhr Phone 08821 73036 40 Phone 0981 9700127 Phone 09641 9240414 Phone 08821 94339 41 Phone 09641 9240416 BAMBERG KATTERBACH GRAFENWÖHR II Emil Kemmer Str. 23 Katterbach 4a Neue Ambergerstr. 101 BMW Military Sales 96103 Bamberg-Hallst. 91522 Ansbach-Katterb. 92655 Grafenwöhr A salute to those who serve Phone 0951 9370500 Phone 09802 957 377 Phone 09641 9260615 Phone 09802 957 378 9 May 2008 NATO Skywatch 3 Editor’s note: The Cultural Corner is The Danish Monarchy a series that will highlight one of the nations of the Component with some interesting facts and information. The Kingdom of Denmark: Land of fairy tales, modern design and the happiest people on earth By Capt. Richard Komurek percent) combined with some of the 30 Danish military and 16 civilian most generous welfare benefits. This members. The center of Danish The small kingdom of Denmark means that 33 percent of taxes are activity is their National Support Unit, is world famous for the fairy tales paid back to the citizens in transfer of which features Danish newspapers, of Hans Christian Andersen and the income and Danes receive virtually Danish military internet and a coffee sleek modern design of furniture, free education and free health care. shop. The commander of the NSU, jewelry and architecture. Examples Maj. Fleming Carlsen, says one of of Danish architecture are the Workers in Denmark enjoy good the most interesting aspects of the Sydney Opera House, the La Grande wages and benefits. Nonetheless, Danish military is that they have Arche De La Defense in Paris and Danish companies are among the a union, just like Danish civilian the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein- most competitive in the world. This employees. This union takes care of Westfalen in Dusseldorf. is made possible by a combination problems regarding working hours, of flexibility and security, or payments and salaries. The Danes are also among the flexicurity. For security, Danish happiest people in the world. workers are among the most highly By visiting the Danish NSU, I found Adrian White, a British psychologist organised in the world, with 85 out what Danes miss most about from Leicester Universtity, has percent belonging to a union. For Denmark. They miss their favorite created the first ever ‘Map of World flexibility, Danish employers can foods: a good strong licorice, Danish The Danish monarchy is Happiness’ using data published by fire employees at very short notice. pastries, smørrebrød (open face one of the oldest in the world the United Nations and other global This allows the companies to adjust sandwiches), pickled herring, Akavit and can be traced back more organizations. Denmark was rated #1 to changing market trends. Lastly, (a drink like vodka) and Danish hot than 1000 years. The Queen out of 178 nations. So let’s have impact of unemployment is low dogs. What makes a Danish hot dog of Denmark, Margrethe II, is a look at Denmark. because Denmark has generous special? According to Inga Ratzer, “It’s therefore able to count kings unemployment benefits and invests not so much the hot dog, it’s what we like Gorm the Old (deceased The Scandinavian Model heavily in retraining programs. put on it. A good Danish hot dog has 958) and Harald Bluetooth The Kingdom of Denmark Denmark also has a high employment mustard, ketchup, crispy onion and (deceased 987) among her includes Denmark and the self- rate of women (73.1 percent in cucumber.” ancestors. In 1967, she married governing areas of Greenland and 2005). This high rate of employment Lastly, one should not write about the French diplomat Comte the Faroe Islands. The ice-free part of for women is made possible by the Denmark without mentioning that Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, Greenland is almost 10 times larger public childcare system, which allows one of the most famous toys in the thereafter called Prince than Denmark, which is 43,098 km2 both parents to work a full working world originates from Denmark: Henrik. They have the sons in size without its territories. week of 37 hours without worrying LEGO. The name LEGO is an Frederik (b.1968) and Joachim One aspect of Danish culture is the about who will look after their abbreviation of two Danish words (b.1969). On the death of King approach used for the organisation children. “leg godt”, meaning “play well”. So Frederik IX on the 14th January of society, which is often called the perhaps it is LEGO toys that make 1972, Margrethe II ascended Scandinavian Model. It features some Danes at the Component Denmark the happiest country in the the throne.