Overview 2021
Despite the coronarestrictions, lockdowns, testing and even a night curfew, the year 2021 was successful for the “America Europe Friendship Association -AEFA” thanks to the strong support of our Patrons, Association Ambassadors, Liaison Officers, Sponsors and Members!
The Board’s view is that corona - in some form- will stay with us for a long time! We therefore see corona as a major challenge in achieving our main objective: bringing people together.
We are keen in exploring all possibilities to safely come together while respecting coronarestrictions. It can be done and we did it!
We organized this year 4 well attended “coronaproof” events :
On 11th july 2021 - the fully booked Family Cherry picking event at Chateau de la Motte on invite of Baron van Vloten and his wife Nadja;
On 28th August - the fully booked Family Grottotour with beertastings at Kanne;
On 3rd Oktober - the Family Maas Boattrip at Stevensweerd;
On 6th November the fully booked USA /NATO briefings by US Chargé d’Affaires Ms Marja Verloop and Commander Joint Allied Command General Jörg Vollmer at the Rococo Library, Rolduc, Kerkrade .
Our efforts were well appreciated : our membership increased significantly.
Furthermore, we did not forget the fallen and the veterans: we participated in the various Commemoration Ceremonies which were not cancelled or postponed during 2021 such as :
US Henri Chapelle Memorial jointly with the veterans Ospel/Nederweert;
US Memorial Margraten;
Belgian Monument, Cadier & Keer;
Veteransday Roermond;
Liberation Thorn;
War Cemetery Brunssum and Born,
Veteransday Brunssum & Landgraaf,
Polish Military Cemetery Lommel and Volkstrauertag Lommel.
During the year 2021 we installed USA Chargé d’Affaires Ms Marja Verloop and H.E. Giorgio Novello, Ambassador of Italy as Patrons of our trans Atlantic Friendship Association.
On invite of the Inspector General of the Dutch Forces Lt General Frank van Sprang we met at his Residence.
As announced, we planned a “grand final” event, the “Saturdaynight XMas dinner cruise” on 18th december. Unfortunately, due to the recent more strict coronarestictions ( remaining in force untill 14 th January 2022) we decided to postpone it!
Very sad, but so be it!
Nevertheless, the Board will not give up and with your support we will continue exploring opportunities to organize events!
Although we can not predict the future and what 2022 will bring us. But without planning no actions or events and therefore we are in process of planning some events : Historical Boattour Maastricht with drink at the Gouverneur;
Exursion Fort Eben Emael;
Allied Memorial dinner jointly with the Association of the US Army;
Family Cherry picking at Chateau de la Motte;
excursion Polish Memorial and a visit to the Royal Dutch Military Academy(KMA);
A briefing and reception jointly with Polish Embassy and EIOCO.
On 20th February, we are planning a Happy New Year reception from 2-5 PM at the Banquet Hall of Restaurant De Pastory , Dorpsstraat 45 , 6267 AA Cadier en Keer.
Please note it in your agenda.
Depending on the Comicron situation, we will forward the the invite with details.