the words of the incumbent german president joachim gauck. he was touching upon what was perhaps von weizsacker's most important address in 1985 when he described the end of the second world war. >> richard von weizsacker was not just intellectually aware of what germany had lost. he experienced it during his entire life and with his family history. perhaps that is why he felt -- and let's not be shy to say it -- according -- a calling to urge as germans to finally confront the war and its pconsequences. >> gauck said throughout his lengthy political career, von weizsacker had always been a source of inspiration and orientation for germans. >> by liking him, germans learned to like themselves. he brought something of a healing process to political life. we bow before richard von weizsacker, a great president who could be relied upon to say the right thing and do the right thing. >> foreign minister frank-walter steinmeier also paid tribute to von weizsacker as one of germany's greatest diplomats. >> richard von weizsacker gave not only our ea

they included german president, joe joachim gauck, former polish president lech walesa and former britishter john major. during the service, he referred to weizsaecker's speech in 1985 on the 40th anniversary of the end of world war ii. >> translator: we cannot change history or pretend that it never happened. those who close their eyes to the past are blind to the present. >> gauck said weizsaecker contributed to raising global respect and sympathy for germany. berlin citizens expressed their respect for the former president. they called him a politician who dealt squarely with issues that others failed to confront. >>> it is time now for a check of the weather. people in northeastern areas of the u.s. have been hit with one winter storm after another and they're digging out of heavy snow. meteorologist robert speta joins us with the details. >> let's start off with what's going on out here across much of the new england states and through the northeastern u.s. where it has been coming down as of late and one of the big problems is not just one particular snowstorm but one after another.