Forstern honors 15 citizens with medals and names the first honorary citizen!

Forstern honors 15 citizens with medals and names the first honorary citizen!

History was made in Forstern on July 12, 2025: The community awarded 15 committed citizens with the coveted Citizens' Medal and named former mayor Georg Els the community's first honorary citizen. In his speech, Mayor Rainer Streu emphasized how important it was to make the extraordinary commitment of the honorees visible and to thank them. The Citizens' Medal has a long tradition in Germany and is awarded for special services to the common good, since its introduction in the 19th century to recognize voluntary achievements and to promote civic engagement, as Wikipedia explains.

Of the 15 winners, 13 were men and 3 were women who have worked hard for the community over many years. Among the honorees are exemplary personalities such as Johanna Dittrich, who was active in the community library for over 45 years, and Helga Wilms, who worked as a local councilor and chairwoman of the neighborhood help group for 10 years. Rosa Lehrer, who served on the local council for four electoral terms, was also honored for her services. Their contributions and the commitment of all those honored are obvious and contribute to the common good of the community.

Awards and achievements

A special mention goes to Ludwig Falterer, who was on the local council from 1978 to 2002 and was heavily involved in the fire department, as well as Sebastian Hohentanner, who was also on the local council for four electoral terms and was committed to the interests of seniors and local recreation. Max Reiser, who was active on the local council for 18 years and was involved in the FC Forstern football club, and Dr. Klaus Ströhle, who served on the local council for 36 years, enriches the list of honored personalities with his impressive achievements.

• Georg Els – 24 Jahre Bürgermeister, nun Ehrenbürger!
• Johanna Dittrich – 45 Jahre in der Gemeindebücherei
• Helga Wilms – 10 Jahre Gemeinderätin, Vorsitzende der Nachbarschaftshilfe
• Ludwig Falterer – Engagiert in der Feuerwehr
• Dr. Klaus Ströhle – 36 Jahre im Gemeinderat

Georg Els, who was awarded the Municipal Medal of Merit in silver on June 26, 2024 before being made an honorary citizen, worked in local self-government for over 25 years. During his 24-year term as mayor, he implemented numerous important projects, including comprehensive childcare and a modern fire station - initiatives that have significantly enriched life in Forstern, according to local reports Heimat Info.

Overall, the award with the Citizens' Medal demonstrates the recognition of civic engagement in Forstern. It not only serves to thank those honored, but is also intended to be an incentive for future commitment within the community. The importance of the Citizens' Medal and the tireless work of the population are thus impressively brought to the fore.