$150.00 - Luxembourg American Heritage Information Center

Six hundred people awaited the Grand Duchess, in a richly decorated hall festooned with
the most beautiful flowers that could be provided by the Pesche, Leider, Platz, and Kennicott
families. Consul of Luxembourg and Section 15 member, Joseph J. Witry, Sr. escorted the royal
party to the podium. Mel Weides, a member of Section 3, sang the national anthems of both
America and Luxembourg, accompanied on the piano by Mathias Graten, also of Section 3.
Fred Pesche's granddaughter, Collette, daugther of Fred. Jr., presented the Grand Duchess with
a bouquet of pink roses. After the remarks of several dignitaries, a reception line was formed and
the Grand Duchess greeted each guest.
At the conclusion of the evening, the Grand Duchess was escorted to her automobile by
Consul Witry. Near the limousine were two thirteen year olds, Consul Witry's son Richard and
his friend, Philip Leadroot. Dick Witry caught his father's attention and the two youngsters were
introduced to the Grand Duchess and Prince Jean. Twenty-one years later, during Grand Duke
Jean's state visit to America, Dick Witry would be Vice-Consul of Luxembourg in Chicago, and
Philip Leadroot, would be a member of the Secret Service, assigned to the Grand Duke's
protective detail.
The second event of significance in 1963 was the millenium flight to Luxembourg. On May
10, 1963, two Air France jets departed O'Hare airport in Chicago to bring a contingent of 217
Luxembourg expatriates back to their home country as part of Luxembourg's Millenium
Celebration. Little did these pilgrims know or guess the magnificent reception that awaited them
in Luxembourg.
Exclamations of surprise echoed throughout the Boeing 707 as it glided to a landing at
Findel Airport and its passengers first sighted the immense crowd at the landing field. The
welcome was unexpected and spontaneous. Led by Bishop Leon Lommel, numerous Luxembourg
officials greeted the newly arrived guests. Little girls dressed in native costumes presented
bouquets of beautiful flowers. Dr. Carlos Puetz, President of the American Luxembourg Society,
delivered the welcoming remarks.
Travelers on the 1963 millenium flight to Luxembourg in the gardens of the American Embassy.
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