Message of Greeting from German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth on German-American Day
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- Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States of America, Klaus Scharioth
- (© German Embassy, Washington DC)
Twenty-two years ago, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6 German-American Day. This day of commemoration was meant to recall the 400-year history of German immigration and to pay tribute to the contributions Americans of German heritage have made to the United States.
Over the course of those 400 years, more than 7 million Germans came as immigrants to the United States. That number has since grown to 43 million Americans who claim to be entirely or partly of German origin, making them the largest ethnic group in the U.S.
Their contributions to American culture, business, and society are impressive. One of the first political dynasties of the United States was the Muhlenberg family, who originated from the region of Halle on the Saale River. Frederick Muhlenberg was one of the signatories of the Bill of Rights in 1789. Six Muhlenbergs served in the U.S. Congress over the years. Figures such as Astor, Berlitz, Steuben, and Carl Schurz are virtually household names.That fills us with pride and joy.
For all of the German immigrants, the United States was the land of hope, the land of refuge, and the land of freedom, which welcomed them with wide-open arms. Their motives for leaving Germany were diverse. They came because their artisan skills were sought after, to escape religious and political persecution, poverty, and famine. That America has always remained true to its ideal and became home to so many of our former countrymen and -women forms a cornerstone of friendship between our two nations, along with the common values that we share.
The year 2009 in particular reminds us of the importance of freedom. It’s now been 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the spirit of “freedom without walls” , we will pay tribute to the courageous people in the former GDR, who took to the streets to peacefully call for freedom and who ultimately brought about the reunification of Germany and overcame the division of Europe. The United States of America supported this process from the start, which led to a free and united Europe . We are forever grateful for this support.
German-American Day should not be taken as an occasion to reflect only on the past. It should also inspire us to carve out new paths in German-American relations. An integral part of these relations is lived and shaped in German-American societies. It’s the human encounters that these societies make possible from which friendship grows.
Thank you all for the very personal contribution you make to preserving and deepening German-American friendship.
Klaus Scharioth
