For over 70 years, the City of Arlington has enjoyed a close Sister City relationship with Bad Königshofen, a small northern Bavarian town in Germany. Because Bad Königshofen was located just a few miles west of what at that time was the border between East and West Germany, hundreds of refugees from the communist East had overwhelmed the town. There was a real shortage of food and clothing. The citizens of Arlington stepped up with four massive shipments to help the struggling residents.
Today and once again, our Sister City needs our help. With war raging near its borders, the 7,000 residents of Bad Königshofen are opening their doors to hundreds of refugees who have fled violence in their home country of Ukraine. Scroll down to see how you can help.
AMA AND BAD KÖNIGSHOFEN
Since the 1950s, the friendship between our two cities has inspired a number of significant collaborations. Just east of the Arlington Museum of Art you can find one of those projects: a public art installation.
In 2001, a friendship monument called The Bridge was created by four artists from each city in Bad Königshofen’s Arlington Park. Six of the same artists (three from each city) then created a 12-foot-tall stainless steel International Peace and Friendship Monument, which stands in Gene Allen Park next to the Museum. The monument was dedicated on July 12, 2003.
In 2020, the Friendship Monument and the park were featured in a Downtown Arlington series of collectible posters designed by our own Lily Williams, Director of Education.
“The Bad Königshofen sculpture is close to my heart,” Lily told Downtown Arlington in an interview. “My parents are German teachers (they actually met in Germany) and German culture played a big part in the childhoods of my sister and me. My family hosted citizens of Bad Königshofen when a group came for the dedication of the statue. A few years later we went and visited Bad Königshofen on a family vacation. It’s a charming town and the people were absolutely lovely.”
2022: OUR SISTER CITY NEEDS OUR HELP
From now through April 15, 2022, we hope you’ll join us and help send food and supplies to Bad Königshofen as they lend a hand to those in need. When you donate through the City of Arlington’s website, all of the proceeds will go toward our Sister City’s efforts to provide a safe haven for Ukrainian refugees.
Click here to visit the City of Arlington online store to make a tax-deductible donation.
