Soldiers’ Angels host a German meal for Fisher House residents

by Laura Darden
Landstuhl Fisher House volunteer


A group of Soldiers’ Angels descended on the Landstuhl Fisher House Friday to provide authentic German cuisine to residents and patients being treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. This particular group of Soldier’s Angels supports the Landstuhl Fisher House and is made up of a team of friends that come from all over Germany to extend the arm of friendship between our two nations.

“It is important for us to show the Soldiers they are not alone in Germany and that we appreciate what they do and to let them know we care,” said Willie Aufmkolk, the group’s team leader.

The Soldiers’ Angels cook at the Fisher House every year on Good Friday and again in the fall for an Oktoberfest barbecue. They also provide backpacks, gifts and personal items to the wounded and ill at the medical center. Rudi Aufmkolk and Sol Fardella did the cooking in the Fisher House kitchen and one just had to follow the delicious aroma to find loads of fresh schnitzel, bratwurst, and delicious cheesy pretzels.

Astrid Clauss brought all types of delicious homemade cakes and tarts for dessert. Other members of the group are Willie Aufmkolk, the team leader; Regina Zierer, the eldest member at 85 years old; Ulrike Wheeler, who traveled from Berlin to attend the event; Claudia Fardella and her daughter Bella Fardella, 8, who is the youngest member. Also on grill duty was Lt. Cmdr. John Rosnow from the Defense Logistics Agency.

“We are so appreciative of this group of Soldiers’ Angels to take time on their holiday to come support the residents here at the Fisher House with such wonderful food and friendship,” said Vivian Wilson, director of the Landstuhl Fisher House.

The two Fisher Houses provide a “home away from home” for families and patients receiving medical care at LRMC. Guests come from U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, AFRICOM and the 72 embassies in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As of today, we are proud to have supported more than 9,600 families of which more than 2,400 have come from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation New Dawn (formerly Operation Iraqi Freedom). We are also proud to say we have assisted family members from numerous coalition countries supporting those military operations during their families’ time of need.

Given as a gift from the Fisher House Foundation, the houses are owned, operated and maintained by the Department of the Army, under the Army Fisher House Program.

For more information about the Landstuhl Fisher House, call 06371-618-3311 or visit www.fisherhouse-landstuhl.org.

For more information about Soldiers’ Angels, visit www.soldiersangels.org.