I have had several emails from people asking a little more about myself so here goes.  My parents are both from Germany, my mother is from Manheim and my father is from Emden.  They met over here in the early 50s in Freeport, Illinois and were married in the mid 50s.  I was born in Freeport and have resided in the area ever since.  I own a small consulting company called Valk Systems and own and operate several websites which may be browsed from HERE.  Please let me know if you have relatives from the Emden region of Germany and you have a last name of Valk, would be interesting to know!