The New Ulm Journal's Josh Moniz brought this item to Bluestem's attention, Hermann takes a fall:
This photo from the Washington office of Rep. Tim Walz shows that Hermann the German was the sole victim in Walz's office of Tuesday's East Coast earthquake. . . .
The Hermann the German bobblehead was toppled when the earth rippled. No permanent damage was sustained by the barbarian leader.
Hermann must have quite the publicist, having made the Journal twice in the last week. In New exhibits at Hermann Monument, Moniz's colleague Fritz Busch reports:
Numerous additions to exhibits at the Hermann Monument Interpretive Center were revealed Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public open house.
Additions include an enclosed, 97-piece sequential diorama depicting the battle between Hermann and the Romans in Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D.; Roman Legionnaire "Marcus Maximus" complete with armor and weapons, plus memorabilia from the Order of the Sons of Hermann who built the New Ulm monument more than a century ago.
The leader of the group that helps the City of New Ulm with the landmark statute praised the barbarian as an example for local residents:
Hermann Monument Society (HMS) President Denis Warta called Hermann "a German freedom fighter who defeated a Roman Legion superpower and a symbol for all people of German descent."
Hermann the German captured Bluestem's imagination early in our publishing history when the New Ulm Retail Association sought to put a giant red boa around the statue's neck as a promotion to kick off the 2006 Christmas shopping season. This set off a vigorous debate in the city council and the proposal was rejected by the city council. They elected to keep their barbarian civilized though not fabulous.
Later in 2006, people in Blue Earth allowed Santa to bring the Jolly Green Giant a large red scarf. Some rural communities are simply more tolerant of such things than others.
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