Local curator, cultural ambassador, source of inspiration: Beni Eisenburg, now 86 years old, has made many contributions to the entire region.
Now he is Gmund's honorary citizen
Gmund
- The services of Heimatpfleger Beni Eisenburg to Gmund, the Tegernsee valley and the whole region are as numerous as they are large, as comprehensive as they are diverse.
Now the 86-year-old has been awarded the honorary citizenship of his home community Gmund in a ceremony.
Around 50 Gmunds - friends, companions, clergy, local councilors, former and vice mayors as well as representatives of the municipal institutions - came to the auditorium of the Gmund primary school on Monday afternoon to pay their respects to Beni Eisenburg and his wife Hannelore and to thank them personally and celebrate with them.
You are on your toes, exchanged ideas and were happy to finally be "together" again - especially on this special occasion.
"The appointment as an honorary citizen is the highest distinction that the community bestows," stated Mayor Alfons Besel at the beginning.
Also that the right of honorary citizenship is bestowed on personalities who have “rendered outstanding services to the community and its citizens in a particularly exceptional and meritorious way”.
Driving force in many areas
In his speech, Besel explained how much Beni Eisenburg has always made a name for himself in a wide variety of areas. Their tone revealed how much he - like the others present - respects, values and has a personal bond with Eisenburg: as an archive and home keeper, as a practical craftsman who, as a (costume) master tailor, always has a small slot for matches in his suit jacket sewed so that the wearer could always light a light. As a cemetery guide who saved historical wrought iron crosses that today bear witness to the local burial culture such as the blacksmith's trade. As a source of inspiration, as a researcher in the field of folk music, folk dance, literature and Bavarian cultural assets. As a chronicler and esteemed author of folklore articles in books, magazines, newspapers,Specialist magazines, the Gmund booklet and the community offer as well as for radio broadcasts. As a speaker and organizer of singers 'and musicians' meetings, Advent and Passion singing and club festivals. As a moderator of around 900 folk music events and readings, as a dance master of more than 850 folk dance evenings, as a cultural ambassador.
The mayor listed all the honors - from the district medal for “outstanding commitment in the field of culture, homeland care and music” to the Cross of Merit on ribbon and the Kiem-Pauli medal in gold to the Waldemar Rausch Prize.
In addition to Eisenburg's subtlety, he praised his restrained modesty and his quiet, reserved demeanor.
“Beni, you make us aware of the treasures we are guarding here - and make us rich with them.
You inspire us for our traditions - and thus give us a home.
And the best of all: You give joy and make people happy. "
"We did it for pleasure"
Besel's heartfelt thanks came when he presented Beni Eisenburg with the certificate of honorary citizenship and Hannelore Eisenburg with a large bouquet of flowers.
The honoree himself - how could it be otherwise with him?
- the list of his merits seemed almost too much for praise.
Rather, he referred to fellow campaigners "from times without cultural funds and grants", such as Fred Rauch, Hans Schachtner, Sepp Holzer, Sepp Fischhaber and Waldemar Rausch, with whom he played theater, staged apostle plays and Advent singing and wrote the Gmund booklets.
"We did it together, out of joy and on our own," Eisenburg clarified.
He thanked his wife for her companionship and the community for the high distinction: "I am happy to join the other well-deserved Gmunders," he said and listed the previous honorary citizens by name.
With a view to his status as Gmund's only living honorary citizen, Eisenburg said: “I hope that I will continue to enjoy Gmund for a long time.
But I don't have that in my hand, ”said the new honorary citizen, before he asked to the buffet and to celebrate.
