MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2007

Tulsa Fire Department hosts 40 Firefighters from Celle
see photos

Volunteer Firefighters from Celle, Germany and surrounding communities met with the Tulsa Fire Department on Monday, March 26. Firefighters are in Tulsa for an 11-day visit that will include a trip to OKC to see the Firefighters Museum, Murrah Building Memorial and Capitol, among other sites. Visitors will also visit Woolorac, the TPS new ropes course, Tulsa Air & Space Museum and enjoy a barbeque dinner prepared by the Tulsa Fire Department. All guests are staying with hosts families who will be treated to a traditional German Dinner at the German American Society Center.

Tulsa, Oklahoma - On Saturday, March 24, 40 volunteer fireman from Celle, Germany, stepped off the plane in Tulsa, for an 11-day visit with the Tulsa Fire Department. This is the third visit between firemen.

Celle Firefighters, 2001

In 2001, the newly formed Tulsa-Celle Sister City Partnership hosted its first official visitors from Germany - a group of 19 youngsters and seven adults from Celle’s voluntary fire fighting department. The Partnership worked closely with the Tulsa Fire Department, Tulsa Global Alliance and the German American Society to develop a first-rate educational and cultural itinerary for the visitors’ two-week stay.

In 2002, a small group of Tulsa firefighters returned the exchange with a visit to Celle and were treated with the same hospitality and quality program.

Firefighters from Celle and surrounding communities who will be visiting Tulsa March 24 - April 4. Some of these firefighters are making a repeat visit, as they liked Tulsa hospitality so much, and others are newcomers.

All of Celle’s firefighters are dedicated volunteers who are exposed to an extensive training program at a young age. “They are like a large family, taking part in each others’ social activities,” said Tulsa-Celle Partnership Chair Arnold Bieber. “Quite often, sons (and daughters) follow in their fathers’ footsteps to serve their communities."

Of the 40 firefighters on this trip, two are youth firefighters in training, age 7 and 12.

Contact:
Debbie Bailey, Tulsa Fire Department, 527-0289 (cell)
Arnold Bieber, Tulsa-Celle Partnership Chair

Meet and Greet at Tulsa Airport

Formal Welcome at Tulsa Fire Department, March 26, 2007

	Stay Posted. More photos to come.   International Visitors Photos © 2007, Tulsa Global Alliance For copies of these photos, please contact TGA

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