German-American Day, 2003 by the President of the United States of America - a Proclamation

The White House, Washington D.C. ^

[Michael81Dus]

German-American Day Celebrates More Than 300 Years of German

immigration to our shores, beginning with the arrival of 13 Mennonite families from Krefeld on October 6, 1683. Seeking a new life of freedom and opportunity, these immigrants settled in Pennsylvania and founded Germantown near the city of Philadelphia. On this day, we recognize the contributions of those German pioneers, and millions of other German-American immigrants and their descendants, to the life and culture of our great Nation.

As one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States, German Americans have greatly influenced our country in the fields of business, government, law, science, athletics, the arts, and many others. Henry Engelhard Steinway and his sons founded Steinway & Sons in 1853. The 300,000th Steinway piano, the "golden grand," was presented to President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938, and is still on display at the White House. John Augustus Roebling and his son pioneered the development of suspension bridges and wire cable. Their construction of the Brooklyn Bridge is a lasting landmark to their skill, determination, and innovation. And entrepreneurs such as John Davison Rockefeller, John Wanamaker, and Milton Snavely Hershey helped to strengthen the American economy and inspire others to reach for the American Dream.

In addition to their many professional achievements, German Americans have influenced American culture. From Christmas trees to kindergartens, the United States has adopted many German traditions and institutions. By celebrating and sharing their customs and traditions, German Americans help to preserve their rich heritage and enhance the cultural diversity of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2003, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the contributions to the liberty and prosperity of the United States of our citizens of German descent.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

[Michael81Dus]

Happy German-American Day on Oct 6th, and to all Freepers with German descent many regards from the "Fatherland" ;-)

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[Loyal Buckeye]

Thank you. My ancestors arrived in 1811 and 1860.

[Loyal Buckeye]

I'll have to head out to buy some sauerkraut to celebrate the day (Oh, and some beer, too).

[AAABEST]

I like your profile.

My dad is from Passau. I was stationed in Illesheim (sleepy sheep town near Nuremburg) for two years.

[Michael81Dus]

LOL, as long it´s American beer from a company founded by German-Americans, your plan sounds good. :-)

Btw, with what do you eat sauerkraut? I know two combinations: 1. with sausages and mashed potatoes or 2. as a soufflé mixed with pasta (and garlic) and cheese on it.

[Miss Marple]

Look here! German-American message from the President!

[inPhase]

vielen dank -- bis 1920

[inPhase]

My grandparents came over in 1920 , that is.

[raybbr]

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2003, as National Hispanic Heritage Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2003, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the contributions to the liberty and prosperity of the United States of our citizens of German descent.

Boy, it sure sucks being anything but hispanic in GW's eyes, doesn't it?

The immigrants from the south get a whole month "with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs." and what do the Germans (who I am sure contributed a whole lot more than cheap labor) get?

Eins Tag!!! Wissen Sie jetzt nach wem GW ist Treue? (One day!!! Do you know now to whom GW is loyal?)

[Michael81Dus]

Well, I have to explanations:
1. the President knows that the German-Americans will vote for him, no matter wether he proclaims a month or a day to remember - while I´m not so sure about the Hispanic Americans.
2. Oct 6th 2003 is German-American day for years (I don´t know since when), and the President every years proclaims this date to be the German-American day. It´s a tradition, and I doubt that next year, Sept 15-Oct 15 will be another Hispanic months.

What do you think about that?

[Michael81Dus]

OOPS. Of course I know that we should write the number ´2´ with a "W": TWO! ;-)

[raybbr]

That makes it even worse. That he would go out of his way to declare a whole new month for hispanics and just follow tradition when it comes to the Germans. And, I do think that next year, right before the election, we will see another hispanic month.

What do you think about that?

[Wilhelm Tell]

My American family history started in 1710 and again in 1870. So all of my German ancestors came to North America before there was a Germany, and some of them arrived here before there was a United States of America. All left Europe because of war or the threat of war. Recently, I was able to find out a little about some ancestors in Switzerland and southern Germany (although it wasn't called that) way back into the 1300s. A good number of them lived into their 70s and 80s even way back 500 and 600 years ago, which surprised me. Those Alpine people must be tough!

[raybbr]

Try bacon and onions mit das sauerkraut!!

[Michael81Dus]

Those Alpine people must be tough!

They are! And they make the best cheese and sausages I´ve ever had. ;-) I like them much more than the people here in the North. The ppl in the South are cordial, friendly - and those at the coast are just rough.

[Michael81Dus]

I´ll do. Although I appreciate it when Americans try to speak German ("the gesture counts!!" like we say), but it´s must very hard for you to differentiate between der die & das. It´s not only that we have der, die, das - we also use dem, den, deren, dessen, des. In this case, it would be correct if written "mit dem sauerkraut". Better you just shake your head and go on with a smile. :-)

[raybbr]

Sie haben richtig. Ich habe deutsch in die schule gelernt. Das war funf and zwanzig jahre vor. So, meine errinerung ist nicht ganz genau. Danke vur die verbesserung.

[raybbr]

Danke fur die verbesserung.

[Pharmboy]

From the NYC Steuben Day Parade 2002: