Carlo Krieger, a former Luxembourg ambassador, stopped at the Glockenspiel in Schonlau Park during his tour of New Ulm. Krieger is exploring the heritage of Luxembourg heritage in Southern Minnesota, but is also visiting sites connected to Native Americans. Krieger has studied the U.S.-Dakota War and wanted to visited the Minnesota River Valley for better context on the conflict.

NEW ULM – Thursday at noon dozens gathered in Schonlau Park to hear the performance from the Glockenspiel, including a former dignitary from Luxembourg.

Carlo Krieger, a retired ambassador for Luxembourg visited New Ulm this week. For 18 years he served as Luxembourg’s ambassador to China, Russia and Brazil. Two years ago he retired from his diplomatic position, but he continues working to represent his home country abroad.

Krieger is president of a group called Roots and Leaves. The group honors and valorizes people of Luxembourg who moved from the homeland and settled elsewhere in the world. Luxembourg is the “root” and the settlers in southern Minnesota are the “leaves.” The “Roots and Leaves Immigration Museum” is located at the Luxembourg American Cultural Center in Belgium, Wisconsin. It is here that Krieger met with New Ulm resident Terry Sveine.

Sveine is a member of the Luxembourg Heritage Society of Southern Minnesota and was visiting Belgium, Wisconsin for the community’s annual Luxembourg Heritage Festival. After meeting Krieger, Sveine invited him to visit New Ulm. It was an offer Krieger eagerly accepted.

Krieger had two goals in seeing New Ulm. The first goal is learning about people of Luxembourg heritage who live in southern Minnesota. New Ulm’s German heritage is well established, but there are many Luxembourg descendants in the region. He said some of his friends involved in the study of genealogy had previously visited New Ulm in the 1980s.

Krieger said his initial opinion of New Ulm as a whole was positive.

“I am very impressed with New Ulm,” he said. “Many trees and wide open spaces. It is a nice planned city.”

In addition to New Ulm, Krieger plans to explore some of the surrounding areas. The Nicollet County Historical Society in St. Peter has exhibits featuring settlers originally from Luxembourg.

Krieger explained part of the mission of Roots and Leaves is to recognize the accomplishments of those who immigrated to the United States. Luxembourg led organizations have helped restore and repair old homes created by early Luxembourgian settlers.

The Nicholas Marnach House in Whitewater Township near Elba, Minnesota is one example. In the early 1990s, there was an international effort to preserve the house with assistance from the Luxembourg government. Luxembourg craftworkers and locals volunteered to restore the house.

In the short time since arriving in New Ulm, Krieger has found many Luxembourg connections through names. Several Luxembourgian families had ties to Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Many of the churches windows were gifted by Luxembourg families.

The second reason for Krieger’s visit is related to his social anthropology studies. Krieger has conducted extensive studies on the history of Native Americans. He traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation and Wounded Knee in the 1980s. He is well versed in the history of the Sioux people and wished to see the city connected to the U.S. Dakota War.

There is an overlap with his two goals. The historical records confirm that during the two battles of New Ulm, some of the settlers defending the city were immigrants from Luxembourg.

“There were people at the battle who were born in Luxembourg,” Krieger said.

Sveine said he and Krieger will visits several sites connected to settlers and the U.S. Dakota War. The tour itinerary includes the Harkin Store, Fort Ridgely, the Lower Sioux Agency, Milford Monument and the Brown County Historical Society.

Krieger is excited to explore the sites connected with the conflict. He knows the details, but wants a deeper context for the conflict.

“You can Google everything, but I wanted the context of seeing the land,” he said. Krieger specifically wanted to see the Minnesota River Valley and how the land, from the rivers to the prairie played an impact on the conflict.

“If you understand the prairie and how the land was used you can better understand the conflict,” he said.