Below is an article from a local German newspaper on the ceremony at Point Alpha (formerly OP Alpha) commemorating the last patrol of the Blackhorse on what had been the border between East and West Germany. The Germans have turned Point Alpha into a museum for the Blackhorse and the Cold War. In addition to preserving the camp and its buildings, they have created displays to show what life in the camp was like. More importantly, they use the camp as an educational institution that informs thousands of high school students and other citizens on the Cold War and the US participation in it in Germany. They have done a marvelous job.
Full disclosure, I was the guest speaker for this year’s events. The translation was done by Frau Gaby Haspur, who was the 3rd Squadron S-5 when I commanded the Workhorse.
– Clint Ancker, Communications Director, The Blackhorse Association
TRANSLATION
**Commemoration of Cold War Victims**
**35 Years Since the Last U.S. Patrol at the Inner-German Border**
It is an event that happened 35 years ago yet remains significant to this day: On March 30, 1990, U.S. forces patrolled the inner-German border for the last time. Yesterday, a solemn ceremony at the U.S. camp at the Point Alpha memorial commemorated this historical moment.
The choreography of this ceremony has remained unchanged for 35 years. Just as on the last day of the border patrol, the Star-Spangled Banner is lowered, folded, and handed over to the Point Alpha Foundation. A new flag is then hoisted and set at half- mast in memory of the victims of the Cold War. Despite the repetition, the ceremony still holds something deeply moving and fascinating. Silence prevailed — except for one spectator loudly narrating the event to his wife over his smartphone, seemingly oblivious to the respectful atmosphere.
Students from Hesse and Thuringia also witnessed the ceremony. For many, the Inner-German Border is merely something they have heard about from their parents or read in history books. They had the chance to experience “border experiences” firsthand yesterday, as eyewitnesses — including former U.S. soldiers — guided them through the U.S. camp, explaining the history and patiently answering their questions.
A particularly special flag flew at the flagpole, belonging to Blackhorse veteran Colonel (Ret.) Clint Ancker, who commanded the last patrol in March 1990. For Ancker, this event symbolized the closing of a circle — he had studied history with hopes of seeing Germany reunited. “It is a great honor to stand here at this wonderful monument to freedom and friendship on the 35th Last Border Day. The events of that time represented the triumph of good over evil,” said the 77-year-old, who came from Washington for the occasion.
Among the honored guests were Jennifer Walsh, Deputy Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt; Colonel Christopher R. Daneck, liaison officer for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa; and Stephan König, State Secretary for Media and Europe and representative of the Free State of Thuringia at the federal level.
Dr. Manuel Lösel, State Secretary in the Hessian Ministry of Education, noted how attentively the students listened. “The students hung on your every word, dear Colonel Ancker. No one checked their phones during your speech,” Lösel observed. The fact that Thuringian and Hessian school classes could meet here so naturally was unimaginable for decades — but today, it is just a normal part of life.
Benedikt Stock, Executive Director of the Point Alpha Foundation, concluded with a hopeful message: “We hope that Europe and the U.S. will continue to stand together in support of free nations — under different circumstances but still hand in hand. To protect and defend the free world and our shared values. Together, we are stronger.”
TRANSLATION
**Photo captions:**
1. Cadets of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps from DODEA Wiesbaden High School during the flag ceremony. Student groups watched the scene in fascination. This time, the flag of Clint Ancker, who led the last border patrol 35 years ago, was fluttering at the flag pole.
