RINCON — Saturday proved to be a beautiful day for Salzburger decendants to celebrate the Georgia landing of their ancestors on March 12, 1734.
Dozens of Salzburgers and visitors shared a meal of “good rice soup” at Jerusalem Luther Church at New Ebenezer. Patsy Zeigler, Betty Renfro and others served bowls of rice soup and bread in remembrance of the first meals in the colony.
Outgoing Georgia Salzburger President Henry Mingledorff remarked that the Georgia Salzburger Society was founded in 1925 and expanded from about 17 members. There are approximately 20,000 Salzburger decendants living in the area, including about 1,500 that are society members. Membership includes Gov. Nathan Deal.
Landing Day celebrations have been held since 1735 when the original colonists gave thanks for their move to this new country.
Mingledorff also said, “Landing Day is the commemoration of the first day that the Salzburgers landed in Savannah. It was the first transit of Salzburgers coming to this country. It is a way of renewing our heritage.”

See the March 14 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.