Princeton, NJ and Colmar, France

Anne O’Neill of Princeton
    During election season when we are often asked to focus on partisan issues, I’d like to draw attention to the events of last weekend when a delegation from Colmar, France visited Princeton to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Princeton – Colmar Sister City jumelage. Whatever divided opinions may surface at this time of year, it is clear that the citizens of Princeton are empathically united in the enduring friendship we share with our “twins” in Colmar. From the moment when 20 Colmarians – Les Amis du Jumelage de Colmar and two Deputy Mayors – arrived at Borough Hall on Saturday, October 26 to be welcomed by their Princeton host families, the people of Princeton opened their hearts, homes, and their entire town (Mayor Trotman proclaimed them honorary citizens of Princeton Borough) to their Colmar friends. When, on Tuesday, they departed for Washington, DC, the Colmarians, all expressed glowing thanks for the extraordinary welcome showered on them by the citizens of their Sister City.
   The great success of this 20th Anniversary visit would not have been possible without a symphony of players: Princeton Borough Hall, The Arts Council of Princeton, The First Baptist Church, The Princeton Public Library, Princeton University, The Princeton Historical Association, Mediterra Restaurant, Witherspoon Bread Company, Conte’s Pizzeria, the Princeton-Colmar Sister City Association, and, of course, the many welcoming residents of both the Borough and the Township. To each and everyone who helped send our Colmar “twins” back home with heart-warming memories of their stay in Princeton, I extend un grand merci for your generosity and the spirit of enduring friendship behind it.
Anne O’Neill, President,
Princeton-Colmar
Sister City Association
Riverside Drive
Princeton