German Air Force captain receives kiss for 30th birthday

By Staff Sgt. Corey Baltos

FORT BLISS, Texas – “Virgins! I am looking for a virgin! Are you a virgin, Fraulien?” This was the question asked by the “Goddess Aurora” as she stood in front of the El Paso town hall building Dec. 17. She was looking for a virgin to give German Air Force Capt. Marc Minninger a kiss for his 30th birthday.

Germans, like their American counterparts, enjoy celebrating birthdays. However, the festivities, while similar; family, friends, cake…, are very different from American celebrations. In Germany some birthdays, like a man’s thirtieth, are designed to be embarrassing and unforgettable for the Geburtstag Junge, (birthday boy), especially if they haven’t gotten married yet.

“It is tradition in our country for an unmarried man to be taken to the town hall by his friends on his thirtieth birthday to sweep the pavement,” said German Sgt. Maj. Maurice Nitschke, German Air Force Air Defense Center. “The reason for this, is the man has shirked his responsibility of finding a spouse, so now his friends have to find him one for him. It will be difficult because he is no longer a Junger Huepfer (spring chicken), so he has to sweep the steps so available women can see that he is a man who can keep house, which would make him more attractive as a potential mate.” Nitschke, who organized the celebration, also played the role of Aurora.

Before heading downtown, Minninger was called into a room at the GAFADC, where his comrades were waiting for him. As he sat down in a chair, he heard the sound of German folk music and saw, much to his horrified surprise, Aurora walk into the room.

“You are now 30, and you are still alone? Why is that?,” she asked.

Aurora then turned to the assembled crowd and told them the answer. “He thinks women are a stress,” she said. “He spends all his time at the gym, or in Vegas gambling his money away.”

Aurora went on to say that since Minninger had failed to get married it was up to his friends to find him a mate. However, before they could do that, Minninger needed be dressed properly.

“Unfortunately, this is not your best outfit,” said “Aurora” gesturing to Minninger’s neatly pressed Air Force uniform. “We need to find you another.”

Aurora then pulled out a “suitable” outfit for Minninger to wear; bell-bottom trousers, platform shoes, and a shirt that wouldn’t have been out of place at a 1970s disco. The ensemble was completed by a wig of unruly, and very curly brown hair.

Once he was properly dressed, Minninger and his comrades headed downtown to parade the birthday boy through the streets before stopping at the court house so the sweeping could commence. To assure that there were items to sweep, the German Air Force personnel helpfully poured rice and bottle caps on the ground.

As Minninger swept, Aurora searched for a virgin to give him a kiss. Her questions, were met with incredulous looks by most of the passersby. As time went on, Aurora realized that finding a virgin might prove to be difficult, so she settled for any women who would be willing to kiss the lonely captain.

Minninger’s savior was found in the form of El Paso resident Claudia Velasco.

“I wasn’t expecting to participate in this,” said Velasco after she planted a kiss on Minninger, thus releasing him from his chores. “I was a little offended at first, but it is all in good fun, I was happy to participate in their traditions.”

This article appeared in the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, or DVIDS.