About 100 guests from the ranks of carnival participants in Saarland, as well as district council members and state parliament deputies, enthusiastically followed the event in the large assembly hall of the district administration. During the evening, three outstanding "Faasend-Booze" were honored for their many years of dedicated voluntary commitment to the carnival tradition in the district. The band "Die Gipfelkraxler" provided the lively musical backdrop a few days after the start of this year’s carnival season. The award ceremony was once again hosted by Louisa Schlang.
District Administrator Patrik Lauer welcomed the guests as the host with a carnival speech: "What you keep delivering, / is a real fun sensation! / I’m already sooo looking forward to the new season!" He emphasized the creativity that makes the carnival festivities in the district so special. The Faasend brings people together who work hand in hand to offer the community great experiences, from the gala cap session, to parades and guard dances, to storming the town hall.
Those who make an outstanding contribution to the carnival traditions will be honored for the first time in 2023 with the medal – as a complement to the existing recognitions of voluntary commitment without the requirement of the sometimes very high criteria of other awards. In this way, the awarding of the medal puts people at the center who often remain in the background: the artists and organizational talents, the planners and doers who ensure a colorful and diverse activity during the fifth season within and with their clubs.
The Saarland Minister of Education Christine Streichert-Clivot, the President of the Association of Saarland Carnival Clubs (VSK) Stefan Regert, and Michael Schleich, VSK regional district representative Saarlouis-Lebach, also praised in their greetings and tributes how strongly the carnival participants commit themselves to the preservation of customs and emphasized how important this dedication is for the community.
There were many applications for this year's call for the honorary order, from which the jury – consisting of District Administrator Lauer, Michael Schleich, Stefan Regert, VSK Youth Regional Representative Amelie Herr, and VSK Honorary President Horst Wagner – had the honor of selecting three recipients. Great importance was placed on "special and lasting commitment to the carnival in the district of Saarlouis," as well as on exceptional merits for customs or for the club and voluntary services over many years, serving as an outstanding example of lived humanity and solidarity.
The commitment of all the nominees was impressive here; in the end, the following three individuals prevailed: Bärbel Kirst, Simone Litzenburger, and Philipp Getto.
In their sympathetic and personal laudations, District Administrator Patrik Lauer, VSK President Michael Regert, and VSK Regional District Representative Michael Schleich addressed the admirable volunteer work of the awardees. Bärbel Kirst impressed not only with two decades of membership in the KV De Neimerder Wallerfangen and the way she contributes to the Faasend. District Administrator Lauer emphasized that her opinion carries weight even with the municipal administration and that she is active and indispensable for her club and the Wallerfangen village community both on and off stage, with great passion and a good dose of mischief.
Outstanding is also the commitment of Simone Litzenburger at KV de Picarda Fräsch. The newly awarded holder of the honorary order has belonged to this club for almost 40 years. She "simply rolls up her sleeves a little more than others," emphasized Stefan Regert, who praised her long-standing and diverse dedication at the forefront of Faasend – especially her involvement in youth work and talent development as well as club administration.
As the third member of the trio of medals for 2024, Philipp Getto from the Gold-Blauen-Funken Saarwellingen was honored. Michael Schleich emphasized in his laudation the technical and graphical expertise of the medal recipient, who dedicates his skills entirely to the service of carnival and the club. Not only as a long-standing technical director but also as the most senior member of the gentlemen's guard – known as the "General Field Marshal" – he travels to many Gold-Blauen carnival events from the Rhine-Main area back to the district to contribute to the carnival wherever he can.
The jury honored these outstanding voluntary services each with the honorary medal of the district administrator for special carnival engagement, both for Philipp Getto as well as for Simone Litzenburger and Bärbel Kirst, all three of whom wore the medal with great pride.
