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Order of Merit for two former police officers from East Hesse: The tireless commitment of Franz Josef Adam and Michael Duschka to social justice is now officially recognized.
Wiesbaden – Two committed East Hesse people were honored for their outstanding voluntary commitment in local politics and in the social sector. State Secretary Manuela Strube presented Franz Josef Adam from Neuhof near Fulda and Michael Duschka from Lauterbach im Vogelsberg district the Federal Order of Merit, as the Hessian Ministry of Labor, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs announced.
Two former police officers from East Hesse receive the Federal Order of Merit
Strube, who presented the award on behalf of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, praised the extraordinary commitment of the two honorees. “Mr. Adam and Mr. Duschka have been making a continuous and invaluable contribution to local politics and social issues for many years,” she emphasized. Both “have a lasting impact with their commitment – in their home communities and far beyond,” added the State Secretary.
Franz Josef Adam, a former police officer, joined what was then the Federal Border Guard in 1974. After his career as a group leader and trainer, he moved to the border guard office at Frankfurt Airport in 1992. Until his retirement in 2017, he worked in the senior ranks of the Federal Police. He has been involved in local politics in Neuhof for almost 28 years, including as first deputy on the community board and spokesman for the “Shaping the Future” working group.
“Social issues and social cohesion are very important to Mr. Adam. In 2014/2015 he also worked on a voluntary basis for the social integration of refugees in the region. To this day he helps with the procurement of living space and its furnishings as well as with carrying out moves,” explained Strube.
He also offers transport services and accompaniment to doctor’s appointments and supports foreign parents if their children have problems at school or kindergarten.” Adam is also committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities and was a founding member of the Living and Working Association in Neuhof in 2018. In 2003, he received a letter of honor from the state of Hesse for his services.
Michael Duschka has been active in local politics for three decades
Michael Duschka, also a former police officer, completed his studies in administrative management at the administrative college for the Hessian police service in Wiesbaden. He led various police units before retiring in 2006. Duschka has been active in local politics for almost 30 years, including as a city councilor and city councilor in Lauterbach.
Until he retired in 2006, he headed the Lauterbach police station and the Schotten and Schlitz police stations. Duschka has also been active in local politics for almost 30 years. He initially served as Lauterbach's city councilor from 1989 to 1993 and from 2001 to 2016. From 1997 to 2001 he held the office of city councilor. DHe also worked intensively in the social sector: from 2007 to 2023 as a member of the Lauterbach Senior Citizens' Advisory Board and from 2012 to 2023 as its chairman.
In 2019 he received the award from the “Aktion Generation – Strengthening Local Families” from the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration. He has been chairman of the district seniors' advisory board since 2021 and a member of the Vogelsberg district's commission for exercise and sport since 2022. He was also a volunteer refugee coordinator in Lauterbach from 2016 to 2018.
The honorees demonstrate an impressive commitment to the common good
As a member of the supervisory board of Kompass Leben, he has been committed to helping people with disabilities since 2014. “With his persistent commitment to social justice and his above-average commitment to people with disabilities, he has set extraordinary accents with his work,” said Strube about Duschka, who received the letter of honor from the state of Hesse in 2006 and the state award for social civic engagement in 2009.
“Franz Josef Adam and Michael Duschka have been committed to the common good in diverse and impressive ways for decades. Both are characterized by their tireless commitment. I am therefore extremely pleased to recognize them for this exemplary commitment on behalf of the Federal President and our Hessian state government and would like to express my heartfelt thanks to both of them,” State Secretary Strube concluded her speech.
