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By Perla Trevizo
Staff Writer
The mayors of Hamm, Germany, and Gangneung, South Korea, will open the celebration of Chattanooga's Peace Grove and Culture Fest today.
This is the first time mayors from two of Chattanooga's five Sister Cities are in town at the same time, local officials said.
"Chattanooga is a unique city in that we have five Sister Cities," Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said. "It underscores ... the fact that Chattanooga is a city that has so many connections with people of other cultures."
The Peace Grove is on the site of a fallen elm tree in Coolidge Park and has seven trees with plaques designating the countries being honored. There are benches acknowledging the donors and a globe indicating the location of Chattanooga's Sister Cities and twin cities.
Mr. Littlefield said the Peace Grove accentuates the purpose of Sister Cities, which is "to enable people, in particular children, to learn how to respect other cultures and how to live in peace."
Myeong Hee Choi, the mayor of Gangneung, said through Seong Hee Glickman, president of the Korean Association of Chattanooga, who also served as an interpreter, that he is very impressed with Chattanooga and hopes to continue exchanging art and culture.
"Both cities are so similar in size, weather, cleanliness," he said. "I want to continue exchanging culture, art and hopefully in the future businesses."
Gangneung became Chattanooga's newest Sister City in 2004.
Eleanor Cooper, president of the Sister Cities Association, said Gangneung is proving to be one of the most active Sister Cities. Every year Gangneung invites young artists from Chattanooga to perform at the International Junior Arts Festival in South Korea.
The Shinsayimdang dance and drum group from South Korea will perform today at the Culture Fest and Sunday at the Chattanooga Market.
Hamm is Chattanooga's oldest Sister City, with officials having signed papers establishing the relationship 30 years ago, Ms. Cooper said.
Annette Daelman, international relations coordinator in Hamm, said Chattanooga and her city have student and art exchanges every year.
"Our main aim is to bring people together for a better understanding of the cultures," she said. "I hope the exchange programs continue and expand so more people can experience our cultures."
Chattanooga's other Sister Cities are Wuxi, China; Givatayim, Israel; and Nizhnii Tagil, Russia. Chattanooga's two twin cities are Ascoli Piceno, Italy, and Swindon, United Kingdom.
Mr. Littlefield said he believes a Sister City in Africa would be a good idea for Chattanooga.
"We don't have a Sister City from that continent at all," he said.
E-mail Perla Trevizo at ptrevizo@timesfreepress.com
FAST FACTS
Hamm, Germany
* Population: 190,000
* Area: 87 square miles
* Mayor: Willi Sosna
* Sister City: Since 1977
Gangneung, South Korea
* Population: 229,869
* Area: 572 square miles
* Mayor: Myeong Hee Choi
* Sister City: Since 2004
OTHER SISTER AND TWIN CITIES
* Wuxi, China
* Givatayim, Israel
* Nizhnii Tagil, Russia
* Ascoli Piceno, Italy
* Swindon, United Kingdom
IF YOU GO
* What: Culture Fest
* When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today
* Where: Coolidge Park
* Admission: Free
* Information: 267-1218 or visit www.culturefest.org
