German-American Day, 2011

Proclamation 8731 of October 6, 2011

German-American Day, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As a Nation of immigrants, America has been shaped and
strengthened by the millions who have come to our
shores seeking a better future. German men and women
were among the first to have made the perilous journey
across the Atlantic to seize the promise of the
American dream. The same spirit that guided intrepid
settlers to help establish Jamestown, Virginia, and
found Germantown, Pennsylvania, is reflected in the
indelible contributions to our common culture that we
celebrate today.

Today, nearly one quarter of all Americans trace their
ancestry to Germany, and many familiar American
traditions--from Christmas trees to kindergarten--have
German origins. German descendants have fundamentally
and positively shaped the course of American history.
From the wheels of labor and the fields of sport, to
the halls of power and throughout our society,
generations of German Americans have helped make
America what it is today.

The bonds of friendship and trust between the United
States and Germany continue to enrich both our nations.
Our partnership is more important than ever, and it
remains indispensable to global security and
prosperity. As we observe German-American Day, we
celebrate how far we have come together and remember
the lasting legacy that past pioneers have bestowed
onto us.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 October 6, 2011, as
German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to learn
more about the history of German Americans and to
commemorate the many contributions they have made to
our Nation.

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