Honorable farewell: Horters receive Kiel's highest award!

Honorable farewell: Horters receive Kiel's highest award!

A big celebration for the city of Kiel: Peter and Elisabeth Horter were recently awarded the renowned Andreas Gayk Medal. This medal, which is Kiel's highest honor after honorary citizenship, was recognized at a ceremonial meeting of the council meeting that took place on Thursday evening. The Horters are the founders of the Kiel Machine Museum in the Wik, which was opened with the aim of conveying the fascination for technology, especially historical steam engines and engines. The ceremonial presentation of the medal is scheduled for mid-September in the town hall.

The decision to honor the Horters with this award was not without reason. Your voluntary commitment has made the Machine Museum a central contact point for technology enthusiasts and history buffs. Unfortunately, the two are withdrawing from organizing the museum's operations for health reasons, and the city would like to recognize their achievements in a particularly worthy way by awarding the medal.

What is the Andreas Gayk Medal?

The Andreas Gayk Medal is a medal of merit from the city of Kiel, which is awarded to people who have made special contributions to the city. It is Kiel's second highest award, after honorary citizenship. The first award ceremony took place in the Kiel council chamber in 1971. The medal was named in honor of the former mayor Andreas Gayk.

In order to receive the medal, candidates must have made important contributions in the areas of politics, economics, social affairs or culture. Suggestions for the award can be submitted by citizens, the council meeting or the mayor. A maximum of 30 living people may be awarded the medal at the same time. In the past, the award winners have included personalities such as the music educator Guntram Altnöder and the local politician Ursula Schele.

Commitment to the community

Wolfgang Erichsen, another remarkable example of commitment in Kiel, was awarded the Andreas Gayk Medal on September 21, 2017. He has been committed to Kiel's city center for many years, especially Dänische Straße, and has become the face of this area. He is actively involved in revitalizing the city center and is active in various local associations, such as Kiel Marketing e.V.

The medal is not just awarded symbolically. It comes with a certificate signed by the city president and mayor. In this way, the connection between the city and the honorees is ceremoniously sealed.

Honoring the Horter family shines a light on the importance of voluntary commitment and the preservation of Kiel's cultural heritage. It remains to be hoped that the city will continue to recognize such outstanding personalities with the Andreas Gayk Medal in the future and thus contribute to the common good.