The City of Arlington and the City of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany memorialized their official status as Friendship Cities in a signing ceremony on Nov. 4, 2024. The documents were signed by Mayor Jim Ross and Oberbürgermeister (Grand Lord Mayor) of Rothenburg Markus Naser, officiated by Vice Chair of Sister Cities International and former City Councilmember, Sheri Capehart. Mayor Ross read a proclamation naming Nov. 4 as Rothenburg Friendship Day in Arlington to further commemorate the occasion.
The partnership was also recognized with a signing ceremony in Rothenburg. The signing takes place in both participating cities so that both communities can witness the endeavor and help build relationships, explained Capehart.
A Friendship Cities relationship often serves a stepping-stone to a more formal relationship between two cities and is typically centered around a project – in this case, the Texas Christkindl Market. Sister Cities International was created in 1956 by President Eisenhower, with a vision to champion peace and prosperity by fostering bonds between people from different communities around the world.
“We’re here to celebrate our relationship and our friendship between Rothenburg and Arlington that’s rooted in the traditions and the joy of Christmas and the Christmas markets,” said Trey Yelverton, Arlington’s city manager. “This partnership will allow our cities to exchange cultural treasures and deepen our appreciation for each other’s heritage in this special kind of gathering.”
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a German city of 11,500 people, is known for its well-preserved medieval history and buildings. Lord Mayor Naser, who has served in his position since 2020, has maintained a commitment to preserving Rothenburg’s historical charm, preserving sustainable development and international collaboration.
“When you ask about what brings our two cities together, I think it’s the difference[s] of the two cities, because it’s way more interesting to learn from another city if you’re not exactly the same,” said Lord Mayor Naser. “We get to see the differences in our concepts, the differences in our setup, and we’re making another big step today because we’re officially signing an agreement.”
According to Naser, future collaborations between Rothenburg and Arlington could include working with the University of Texas at Arlington on exchange student programs.
Sister and Friendship City initiatives position Arlington as a global hub for international cooperation, which fosters economic growth, cultural enrichment and mutual understanding.
For more information on Sister Cities International, visit sistercities.org.
Sister City, Texas Christkindl Market
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