German-American Day, 1999

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7233 of October 5, 1999

German-American Day, 1999

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout America's history, we have drawn strength
from the diversity of our people. Men and women from
many different countries and cultures have arrived
here, determined to forge a new life in a new land, and
their talents have contributed to our national life.
Germans were among the earliest ethnic groups to
emigrate to America, arriving at William Penn's
invitation more than 300 years ago. Whether motivated
by the pursuit of religious liberty, intellectual
freedom, or economic opportunity, the millions of
Germans who have made their home in America have played
an important part in advancing the peace and prosperity
that our country enjoys today.

The achievements of notable German Americans have
enriched every aspect of our society. The leadership of
statesmen such as President Eisenhower and Henry
Kissinger helped guide our Nation securely through the
difficult Cold War years. The military acumen of German
Americans has benefited us--from the Revolutionary War,
when Baron Friedrich von Steuben's training programs
brought discipline and organization to the Continental
Army, to the Gulf War, when General Norman Schwarzkopf
helped lead our troops to victory over Saddam Hussein.
Prominent authors H. L. Mencken and Theodore Dreiser
have enlightened our literary tradition, while
inventors George Westinghouse and Charles Steinmetz
have fueled our technological advancement. The world of
American sports has been energized by outstanding
athletes of German descent, providing a showcase for
the talents of such greats as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

But by focusing on the achievements of prominent
individuals, we risk understating the overall
importance of the German heritage to our Nation's
strength and development. Today, nearly one-quarter of
all Americans can trace their ancestry to Germany, just
as our English language finds its roots in the Germanic
tongues of centuries past. German Americans honor the
traditions of their lineage in the way they live,
reflecting the sense of personal honor and strong work
ethic passed down to them by their forebears.

As Americans seek to become a more united people, we
must not forget our roots, for they remind us of who we
are and of what we have to share with others. German-
American Day offers us an invaluable opportunity not
only to honor the contributions of German Americans,
but also to celebrate the close relationship that we
enjoy today with our German friends across the
Atlantic. Next month, we will join them in
commemorating the 10th anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall--a symbolic triumph of democracy and self-
determination. As we look back on half a century of
joint accomplishments with Germany that reflect our
shared respect for the rule of law, human rights, and
social justice, we can look ahead to a new era of
coopera-tion, whether working together to restore peace
to the war-torn Balkans or assisting the former Eastern
Bloc nations on their own road to democratization and
economic recovery.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, October 6,
1999, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans
to applaud

the important contributions made to our country by our
millions of citizens of German descent and to celebrate
our close ties to the people of Germany.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
fourth.