German-American Day 2021: Every year on October 6, it is commemorated. The day honours German ancestors in the United States. Let us learn more about the importance of the day.
German-American Day 2021: In the United States, the day is observed on October 6 to honour the foundation of Germantown, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1683.
The day is commemorated every year to honour the history of friendship between the United States and Germany, as well as the contributions of German descendants in the United States to its culture and history.
German-American Day 2021: History
The day commemorates German American history and recalls the arrival in Philadelphia in 1683 of thirteen German families from Krefeld on the Rhine.
These family founded the town of ‘Germantown,Pennsylvania. It was the original thirteen American colonies’ first German colony.
The day was first observed in the nineteenth century.
President Ronald Reagan declared October 6th as German-American Day in 1983 to show his appreciation and to commemorate the 300th anniversary of German-American immigration and culture to the United States.
On August 6, 1987, Congress passed S.J. Resolution 108, recognising October 6 as German-American Day.
It was signed by President Ronald Reagan on August 18 and became Public Law 100-104.
President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation to this effect on October 2, 1987, in a ceremonial ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, and he encouraged Americans to commemorate the day with ceremonies and events.
German Day was first observed in the nineteenth century, and it was resurrected in 1987 as German-American Day. President Elsbeth Seewald of the German American National Congress (DANK), Drs. Eberhard and Ruth Reichmann of the German Heritage Society of Indiana, Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann of the Society for German-American Studies, and the many thousands of individuals who petitioned Congress were all instrumental in establishing German-American Day at the time.
The German American Joint Action Committee was formed in 1988 by DANK, the United German American Committee of the United States of America, Inc. (VDAK), and the Steuben Society of America (GAJAC). GAJAC has since petitioned Congress and government officials to issue yearly German American Day resolutions and proclamations, garnering widespread support. The objective was to make German American Day a yearly celebration on October 6th.
German American Day commemorates the entrance of the first 13 Mennonite families from Krefeld seeking religious tolerance in the United States on October 6, 1683, and the subsequent founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania. Individual Germans, on the other hand, had been in America from the beginning of European immigration.
In 1608, Germans were a member of the Jamestown colony. And Rhinelander Peter Minuit was the well-known director of the Dutch colony that purchased Manhattan from Native Americans in 1626.
The first of the waves of German immigration that would eventually bring over 7 million people to our shores began on October 6, 1683.
Nearly a quarter of all Americans today may trace their lineage back to Germanic ancestors.
Congress passed S.J. Resolution 108 on August 6, 1987, recognising October 6, 1987 as German-American Day.
When President Ronald Reagan signed it on August 18 of that year, it became Public Law 100-104.
President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation (#5719) to this effect on October 5, 1987, during a ceremonial ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, during which the President signed the proclamation and called on Americans to observe the Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
“When President Reagan originally declared German-American Day in 1987, Europe was still separated by the Iron Curtain,” Chancellor Helmut Kohl said in a letter from Bonn to the celebrations of German-American Day in 1991.
In a peaceful manner, we Germans were able to reclaim our unity and independence.
The American people deserve credit for this, since they were responsible for securing European peace over a 40-year period. In the most difficult of times, America stood by our side, and we shall never forget the efforts of American presidents.”
Kohl said that “German-American friendship and partnership” is “a guarantee for a bright future.”
German-American Day 2021: Significance
The day commemorates the merging of the two nations’ histories. It also represents German-speaking Americans’ admiration for American traditions and contributions.
It is also commemorated in honour of the German families that founded a colony in the United States.
