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City plays host to visitors from Scotland

By ANNETTE JONES

Date published: 12/10/2003

For more than 20 years, Fredericksburg has enjoyed a sister-city relationship with Frejus, France.

Now the circle is widening.

Last week, Fredericksburg played host to a group of visitors from Dundee, Scotland. The entourage had been visiting Dundee's sister city, Alexandria. Included in the group were Lord and Lady Provost of Dundee, John and Betty Letford as well as Dundee Council Officer Gordon Williamson.

Phyllis Whitley, director-liaison of the Fredericksburg Sister City Association, was delighted with the latest international visitors. "It was something unusual," Whitley explained. "Up until this year, we haven't had exchanges with anyone else."

Whitley pointed out that this was the second international tour--other than Frejus--to visit the city this year. In March, a group of Russian librarians passed the time at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters on Princess Anne Street.

The Dundee group had a full day in Fredericksburg, hitting an assortment of museums as well as spending some time with Mayor Bill Beck.

The Sister Cities program was started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a way to help people understand we all live in one world.

Fredericksburg hooked up with Frejus through happenstance, although Whitley is quick to point out the similarities between the two cities: Both are tourist towns, both are on bodies of water (although Frejus' body of water is the Mediterranean Sea) and both are relatively old towns (although Frejus was founded by Julius Caesar.).

While Whitley looks forward to more exchanges, the FSCA may have to pass on a recent request from the Library of Congress to host a group from Lithuania. The big problem, Whitley explained, is finding someone to be an interpreter.

To reach ANNETTE JONES: 540/368-5046 abjones@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 12/10/2003