Exhibit chronicles band trip to Longvic

George Weaver remembers the appetizer he was served while seated next to Art Futer at the reception dinner in Longvic (pronounced Longvee), France, in 1974. Susan Ressler (then Susan Hoober), remembers that her now-husband Mike Ressler took her on their first date - a late-night river cruise on the Seine. Don Reed remembers getting lost in one of the less-savory areas of Paris while trying to go to a show that a girl he liked was attending with her family.

From July 4 through 12, 1974, 40 members of the New Holland Band and more than 20 area residents traveled from New Holland to Paris to Longvic and a town in Switzerland as part of a twin city trip. New Holland is the twin city of Longvic. The twin city program, Mike Ressler noted, was created "to encourage the flow of people, information, and ideas between communities so that both may be enriched."

Two charters - one signed in Longvic and the other in New Holland - are among the photos and artifacts from the trip that are displayed on the first floor of the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) Museum, 207 E. Main St. The NHAHS Museum is currently open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day or by appointment. To make an appointment, please call 717-538-3079.

In the display, Mike Ressler has included the itinerary for the trip and the names of all those who journeyed to France. He recalled that a stop at the Suresnes American Cemetery to perform a memorial service led by Ed Beck was part of the band's first day in France. A photo including then-mayor of New Holland Willis Houck and band member Mike Terry playing taps is among the black-and-white pictures taken by Charlie Rice that are in the display.

The arrival at Longvic included a parade into town and a reception with much food and drink. "It was a five- or six-course meal of extravagant food sponsored by the people of Longvic," recalled Mike Ressler. Following the meal, the band played in the courtyard outside the building, and the Americans and French attendees joined hands and skipped to Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever." The American contingent also visited the Sperry plant located in Longvic at that time.

Another highlight of the trip was boarding a bus to give a concert in a town in Switzerland. Weaver, who has consistently been a member of the band since before the trip, recalled seeing the fields of red poppies from the bus window. In the Swiss town, the band led a parade and then played in a gazebo. "The whole town shut down," recalled Weaver. "The stores closed, and everybody came to the concert."

"The highlight of the final day was a concert under the Eiffel Tower," stated Mike Ressler. "The sound reverberated off the ironwork above us."

At 14 years old, Reed was the youngest band member to make the trip. The oldest was Clyde Hall, who was 73 at the time. Organizers took pains to have travelers stay in the homes of those who had similarities to them. Beck, who owned Beck's Funeral Home, stayed with an undertaker, and Weaver with a family that had children about the same ages as his own. His French host was an English major, so they were able to converse easily. When Longvic sent a contingency to New Holland later on, the host stayed with Weaver and his family.

Mike Ressler recalled that Sam Zimmerman, band director at the time of the trip, flute player; Luke Haines; and Beck spearheaded the effort to visit Longvic. "Sam served with an Army band in World War II," said Mike Ressler, who added that Haines was a bomber pilot who flew missions in France, and Beck was a veteran who served stateside. Susan pointed out that in 1974, only 30 years had elapsed since the end of World War II.

"The band played classic American music and recognizable French music, and everywhere we played, the crowds went crazy," said Mike Ressler.

Weaver noted that throughout the French countryside, the welcome for the Americans was warm. "People in France remembered that (that the U.S. played an important role in the liberation of France)," he said. "They rolled out the red carpet for the American band."

More information about NHAHS may be found at https://nhhistorical.com.