He is being honored for his decades of commitment to various clubs as well as for his services to local politics.
In 1957, Harald Pauly joined FC 09 Niederwürzbach. Between 1980 and 2000, he served as the second chairman. In this role, he played a significant part in the reconstruction and renovation of the club's own clubhouse. Starting in 2000, he then took on the position of first chairman for six years. During his tenure, he successfully advocated for the conversion of the hard court into a natural grass pitch. Later, he was also appointed honorary chairman of the club.
Among the rose and flower enthusiasts, Harald Pauly was initially active as the second chairman and head of organization before taking over as the first chairman in 2003, a position he still holds today. His achievements in the club include, among other things, the organization of a total of 40 editions of the Rose Festival, which is well known and popular far beyond the borders of Niederwürzbach, as well as the expansion of the club's own rose garden.
In addition, he has been chairman of the Fördergemeinschaft Niederwürzbach e.V. since 2017 and manages the "Haus der Musik" with rehearsal rooms, meeting and catering facilities for the music club, the MGV Liederkranz, and the play and hiking club. He is also actively involved in the board work of the Heimat- und Verkehrsverein Niederwürzbach.
In the so-called "team of diligent hands," the honoree also takes care of the local site management. This means he is responsible for the practical work to beautify the town. Among his achievements are, for example, the construction and installation of a new cross in the former Niederwürzbach district "Am Kreuz" and the redesign of a hiking map with the creation, restoration, and installation of a mining locomotive.
“Harald Pauly’s commitment to club work is already exemplary and extremely remarkable. Beyond that, he also volunteers in local politics. There are only a few people who dedicate themselves to society in general and to their hometown and its citizens in particular to such an extent. The description of the Federal Cross of Merit states that the award is given to 'personalities who have committed themselves far beyond the ordinary for other people and for the common good.' Harald Pauly definitely meets this requirement, and I am very pleased to be able to appropriately honor his efforts with this award,” said Interior Minister Reinhold Jost in his laudation.
His local political activities in Blieskastel include his work in the Niederwürzbach local council since 1999 as well as in the Blieskastel city council from 2004 to 2009. In 2014, he took on the role of deputy local mayor. Furthermore, he has been the chairman of the SPD local association Niederwürzbach since 2007.
General information about the award
In 1951, two years after the promulgation of the Basic Law and the first federal elections after the end of the war, the then Federal President Theodor Heuss established the Federal Cross of Merit.
The establishment of the order is intended to recognize political and economic, social and intellectual achievements, as well as special merits for the Federal Republic of Germany or the common good. This way, citizens receive an official award for their voluntary work.
For 70 years now, influential representatives from politics, business, and culture, as well as countless citizens who have been politically or socially active in their immediate environment, have received this highest recognition of our country.
