FROHNA FAMILY REUNION ATTRACTS MEMBERS FROM GERMANY, S. AFRICA

FROHNA -- In 1894, Joachim Dreyer and seven of his brothers and sisters made the treacherous journey to America from Hamburg, Germany. Dreyer and his brothers decided to call the community of Frohna their home, while the sisters settled in Illinois. Three other sisters remained in Germany.

One hundred years later the family has been reunited in America. Family members from Hamburg traveled all the way to Frohna just to meet their American relatives. At the recent Dreyer family reunion, most of the family still spoke in their native tongue, German.

"Frohna is a very German town," said Erika Kindervater, who grew up in Germany and now lives in South Africa. "It amazes me that so many people still speak German. Even the young people want to learn it."

Kindervater, her husband, Wolfgang, and her cousin, Martina Hess, stayed with Edgar Dreyer in Frohna during their two-week visit. Kindervater's mother, Alwine Meyer, and her cousins, Meguea and Hans Georg Hess, none of whom speak English, stayed with Gilbert Dreyer in Frohna.

"We translate for them; they get along with a lot of sign language," said Wolfgang Kindervater. "This is the first time some of them have ever seen many of their American relatives. They wouldn't have missed this for anything."

Although the Dreyers have a small, local reunion every year, the latest was by far the biggest. More than 100 people from all over attended.

"Everyone is so friendly here," said Wolfgang Kindervater. "Wherever you go they'll all invite you to stay. It's not at all like Germany or South Africa."

On their visit to the United States, the international Dreyers took a few days to see America. They went to Florida, Memphis and New Orleans.

"America is so beautiful and there are so many open spaces," Erika Kindervater said. "My personal favorite was Bourbon Street,: she said, referring to New Orleans.

The German family had heard a lot about America mainly through television and newspapers. The Kindervater's son, who wasn't able to make the trip, had also heard a lot about American football. His one request was that his parents take him back some type of football souvenir.

On the day before they were to return to Germany, a friend of the family brought over a real football that was used in a real game.

"Our son will be so impressed," said Erika Kindervater. "He follows American football all the time because we don't have it there. He thinks football is what America is all about."

The German family hopes to return to Frohna again in two years for the next family reunion.

"We loved it so much we want to come back often," said Martina Hess.