Author, Ruth and Geoff Thompson
Geoff Thompson with author
Above and below: On June 21, 2024, the Pakistan Association Luxembourg hosted its first Eid al-Adha celebration at the Centre Culturel Bonnevoie
From Stories to Seeds
By C. Naseer Ahmad
My fascination with World War II began in childhood, shaped by the stories of my father, the late Lt Colonel Aziz Ahmad. His voice—steady yet touched with nostalgia—brought to life not only duty and uniforms but also landscapes, friendships, and unexpected moments of humanity.
After the war, he was stationed in Germany, and Luxembourg often appeared in his recollections. My beloved father spoke of gentle hills, gracious people, and streets filled with charm. I could not have known then that these stories would plant a seed, one that later wove Luxembourg into the fabric of my own life.
The Path of Diplomacy
Years later, that seed took root in cultural diplomacy. Serving on the Board of the Embassy Series, founded by Jerome and Lisette Barry, I found a platform that became a doorway—for friendship, learning, and building bridges.
Through this work I met ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission, whose stories deepened my view of the world. Many became true friends. Among my memories, one stands out: coffee with the late Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld on what may have been his last day in Washington. He spoke with joy of a boat trip on the Mississippi, his eyes alight with freedom. When I later learned he had passed away soon after retiring to Luxembourg, that moment became a lasting treasure.
My friendship with Ambassador Nicole-Bintner Bakshian grew stronger through her own ties to Pakistan. Her recollections of Lahore carried a resonance that linked our worlds.
History Made Personal
My bond with Luxembourg deepened at a concert commemorating the Battle of the Bulge. Surrounded by veterans, I saw history alive in their faces, in the humility with which they carried pride and sorrow.
I wrote about the experience and sent it to Geoff Thompson, editor of the Luxembourg Chronicle. To my delight, he published it, beginning a friendship that has endured for more than a decade. Over the years I contributed nearly twenty stories—small labors of love honoring the ties I felt.
Geoff and I exchanged countless emails, though never a phone call. Ours was a friendship carried entirely by words.
Meeting at Last
That changed when Ms Elisabeth Herndler, Cultural Attaché, wrote to say Geoff and his wife Ruth would be visiting Washington. What was meant as a one-hour lunch became three and a half. Conversation flowed as though we were resuming rather than beginning. Ruth proved as remarkable as Geoff—graceful, insightful, and warm-hearted. Discovering we were all grandparents added another bond. It felt less like meeting for the first time than reuniting with long-lost friends.
A Community’s Celebration
Geoff told me of Luxembourg’s Pakistani community. On June 21, 2024, the Pakistan Association Luxembourg hosted its first Eid al-Adha celebration at the Centre Culturel Bonnevoie - https://chronicle.lu/category/religion-churches/50360-pakistani-community-celebrates-eid-in-luxembourg .
Eid al-Adha—the Feast of Sacrifice—has always held a deep meaning for me. To know that over 350 people gathered in traditional attire, with children sharing art and poetry, families praying and playing together, and Ambassador Amna Baloch offering words of unity, filled me with pride. It was more than a festival. It was a milestone—another bridge between Luxembourg and Pakistan, between heritage and future.
Reflections and Legacy
Looking back, I see the thread binding these moments: my father’s stories kindled curiosity; that curiosity led to friendships, exchanges, and experiences that deepened my sense of history and humanity.
History, I have learned, is not confined to treaties or wars. It lives in the stories we share, the friendships we nurture, and the imprints people and places leave on us. Luxembourg is no longer just a country on the map—it is memory, friendship, and connection, proof that human stories can bridge oceans and generations.
In quiet moments, I hear my father’s voice. He could not have imagined how his recollections would shape my path. Yet in every article, every friendship, every connection with Luxembourg, I have carried him with me. This journey, in truth, is his legacy—woven into the bridges and bonds that continue to shape my life.
