Message of Greetings from

German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth

on German-American Day

 

This year marks the 21st anniversary of German-American Day. We are both pleased and proud to celebrate the long history of German immigrants and the many contributions Americans of German ancestry have made to the life, culture, and economy of this country since October 6, 1683, when 13 families from Krefeld, near the Rhine River, arrived in Philadelphia. They later were to found Germantown, Pennsylvania, the first German settlement in the 13 American colonies. Today, German-Americans are the largest ethnic group in the United States: Some 51 million Americans, almost 17 percent of the population, claim German ancestry.

 

But German presence on American soil can be traced back still farther. Last year, America celebrated the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement dating back to 1607. At that time, a German physician and botanist by the name of Dr. Johannes Fleischer was among the first group of English pioneers to arrive in Jamestown. More German expertise was to arrive in 1608 with a group of German glassmakers, wainscot sawyers, and metallurgists - thus planting the seeds for America to become the world's industrial powerhouse, one could say. In April, I had the pleasure to attend the official commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. It marked not only 400 years of America but also 400 years of shared history as well as 400 years of German-American friendship.

 

The year 2008 also marks the 60th anniversary of the implementation of the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift. The Marshall Plan raised a devastated Germany up out of the ashes and reintegrated it into the community of nations following years of Nazi brutality. During the Soviet blockade in 1948, the citizens of Berlin were faced with a particular hardship. But, once again, the United States stood by its friends. In more than 270,000 flights between 1948 and 1949, the "candy bombers" brought everything - from potatoes to an entire power plant - into the besieged city in order to help more than 2 million Berliners to survive the cold and hunger. The brave airmen also made children smile as they dropped a total of 23 tons of candy over Berlin during the blockade. The Berlin Airlift brought freedom and friendship. Thus, "Friends Always" is the very fitting motto of our commemoration this year.

 

In 1987, the same year German-American Day was officially proclaimed in the U.S., Ronald Reagan delivered his historic speech in front of the Berlin Wall. Pointing to the wall, he urged "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." The speech proved prescient in that only two years later the Berlin Wall fell and people from East and West embraced again for the first time in 28 years. Next year, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of this joyous moment. Germany will be forever grateful for America's role in helping bring about German reunification.

 

We truly have reason to celebrate our lasting friendship on this German-American Day!

 

October 6, 2008

 

Klaus Scharioth

German Ambassador

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release        October 6, 2008


GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY, 2008

A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

For generations, German Americans have contributed to our Nation's identity, culture, and prosperity. On German-American Day, we recognize the many Americans with German ancestry who helped make our country great, and we celebrate our strong friendship with Germany.

The people of Germany and the United States share important family and cultural ties, and millions of American citizens are of German descent. Some of their forebears were among the first to settle Jamestown, and they and many others like them helped lay the foundation for our country, which has become the most prominent symbol of freedom in the world. Many German Americans have shaped our way of life and added to our country's rich heritage.

In celebrating German-American Day, we honor generations of German Americans who came to our shores with dreams of opportunity and contributed to the greatness of our country.

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, 2008, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to celebrate the many contributions German Americans have made to our Nation's liberty and prosperity.

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

GEORGE W. BUSH