More than 2,500 Euro were raised on “Volkstrauertag” – the German equivalent of Remembrance Sunday – by a concert held in the Christuskirche Church to support the restoration of the “Ehrenmal” – the war memorial dedicated to those from Oberursel who lost their lives in the First World War.
Before the concert got underway, the manager of the Ursella-Foundation, Dr. Justus Förschner, explained the current state of the monument, which has been stabilised by filling the hollow base and column with cement. He also went into detail of why it will take some time for the pieces of the mosaic to be re-applied, work that is to be undertaken by a special company from Eppstein (Matthias Steyer). He believes that the work will be finished by the spring of next year.
Dr. Justus Förschner explaining the current state of the restoration work at the Ehrenmal war memorial
However, although Dr. Förschner thinks that the total cost of restoration will be less than originally planned (€170,000), he could not yet say how much the final cost will actually be. Approximately €150,000 are available at the moment, including a grant from the local Government department responsible for monuments and listed buildings (Landesdenkmalamt).
The concert was attended by around 300 people, and was opened by Pastor Reiner Göpfert, who cited how all parts of the community in Oberursel had come together 80 years ago to have the monument erected, and it was thanks to the citizens of the town today that it can remain.
Organised by the Kiwanis-Club Bad Homburg-Taunus and the Neue Musikschule im Hochtaunus (new music school), the concert was also attended by Kai von Schauroth, grandson of the artist Lina von Schauroth, who designed the monument. He gave an insight into the life of the artist and his person experiences with his grandmother.
Performing classical works by a range of composers were Shen Shen (soprano), Rudolf Oppermann (trumpet) and Gisèle Kremer (organ). Among the guests were the chairman of the town council, Dr. Christoph Müllerleile, and Mayor Hans-Georg Brum.
The “Rettet das Ehrenmal” (“Save the Ehrenmal”) website, in German, can found at: www.ehrenmal-oberursel.de
Donations can be made to the following bank account:
Recipient (Empfänger): Ursella-Stiftung „Ehrenmal“
Account (Konto): 70 300 70
Sort Code (Bankleitzahl): 512 500 00
Bank: Taunus Sparkasse
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