Ross said that the visit to Ramstein was not on the original itinerary, but he requested that the seminar’s coordinators include a visit to the injured soldiers so the congressional delegation could personally thank U.S. soldiers for their service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“When I realized that we are going to be able to visit our wounded soldiers, I immediately notified schools in our district so the students could play a part in thanking our troops and helping to lift their spirits,” Ross said.  “I think it will help our children as they learn about Operation Iraqi Freedom in their classrooms, but will also send a powerful message of support to our men and women in uniform.”

Students at Lake Hamilton Elementary in Hot Springs, Coleman Elementary and Watson Chapel Elementary in Pine Bluff, Prescott Elementary, Southside Elementary in El Dorado, and Gardner Elementary in Strong made more than 500 get-well cards on Wednesday.  

During the Seminar, Ross and other U.S. Congressmen will meet with members of the German Bundestag, their lawmaking counterparts in Germany, as well as U.S. and German Ambassadors who have worked to host this event.  Other high-ranking officials include the German Foreign Minister and the Foreign Policy Advisor to Chancellor Schroeder.  

“I am excited about this opportunity to help foster relations between the United States and Germany,” Ross said.  “We will meet with German officials to discuss our partnership in the War on Terrorism, global institutions like the United Nations and NATO, and our trade relationship, among other foreign policy issues.  We will also meet with the U.S. Army European Command based in Heidelberg on a number of military issues.”