GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Today marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. It’s a day that millions longed for, but probably thought they’d never see.
The Berlin wall was a nine-and-a-half mile wall separating communist East Germany from its Western counterpart, and it’s fall gave East Germans a taste of freedom for the first time in 28 years.
The wall divided families, friends, and lovers. It basically stopped any form of emigration from East Germany, and more than 100 people were died trying to cross it.
After weeks of civil unrest, an announcement on November 9 was made by the East German government that the line of separation was gone.
It’s a moment President Ronald Reagan asked for two years earlier at the Brandenburg Gate.
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” he said.
Demolition of the wall didn’t begin until the next summer, in 1990, and wasn’t finished until 1992.
The wall was torn down 25 years ago today by people of both West and East Berlin. You can see a section of the Berlin Wall at the Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. It’s open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The cost is $7 for adults, $3 for kids and children under five are free.
