35th anniversary of the commissioning of the "Alster" sponsored boat

Last weekend, the city of Hof and the crew of the "Alster" celebrated the 35th anniversary of the commissioning of the fleet service boat in Eckernförde. The city of Hof has been the patron of the German Navy boat for 21 years. Accompanied by city councillors Matthias Lentzen, Iris Leichauer and Hilmar Bogler, Mayor Sebastian Auer brought greetings from the city of Hof. A total of 13 friends and supporters of the Alster had traveled from Hof, including members of the Hof Naval Association and relatives of the soldiers. In his speech, Mayor Auer emphasized the close connection that has grown over the years between the city of Hof and the crew: "This sponsorship stands for more than just a formal exchange. It stands for friendships, personal ties and shared values."

The sponsorship has a special significance for both the city of Hof and the crew of the Alster. Delegations from Hof regularly visit Eckernförde and the Alster crew come to Hof in return - for Schlappentag, the Hof folk festival or the Christmas market. Over the years, four marriages have been formed between female and male soldiers from Hof and many close friendships have grown. In addition, the crew of the Alster regularly supports social projects in Hof with donations. In his speech, the first chairman of the Hof Naval Association, Mirco Schlegel, emphasized the deep friendship that has developed between the crew of the Alster and the members of the Naval Association. "This partnership is not only a sign of cooperation, but above all of solidarity and support," he emphasized.

The day in Eckernförde began with a walk through the old town before the company gathered in the officers' home for a reception. There, Mayor Auer and the Hofer delegation presented a new flag with the Hofer coat of arms, Hofer delicacies from local butchers and a crate of Hofer bock beer as gifts. The highlight was the joint hoisting of the Hof flag and the flag of the Hof Naval Association on the Alster. After a fireworks display, the party continued on board the Alster until the early hours of the morning.

In the coming months, the Alster will undergo routine repairs in dry dock, which will take around 12 months. However, as the new generation of Class 424 reconnaissance boats is still some years away, the sponsorship between the city of Hof and the Alster will continue. In the boat's guest book, the Hof delegation has already spoken out in favor of continuing the sponsorship with the new boat. "Just as a boat needs an anchor, the citizens of Hof want to be an anchor on land - for the servicemen and women who stand up for security in Europe in the world's oceans," emphasized Auer.

Thanks to the Hof Naval Association, former and active members of the German Navy are now connected with the crews of German Navy ships in service. The friendship began back in 1974, when the Frauenlob inland minesweeper, which was decommissioned in 2002, was the sponsored vessel. The sponsorship of the fleet service boat Alster, which was launched in 1989, has been in place since January 2003. There are currently around 700 Bundeswehr sponsorships with cities, districts, municipalities and federal states in Germany. According to the German government, the purpose of these sponsorships is to promote citizens' understanding of the Bundeswehr as an instrument of a defensive democracy for peacekeeping and to supplement public relations work on defense issues with the living example of the troops.