German-American Day, 2014

Proclamation 9187 of October 3, 2014

German-American Day, 2014

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America is and always has been a Nation of immigrants,
and from our earliest days, German Americans have
contributed to our national identity. Germans were
among the first settlers in the original 13 Colonies,
bringing their talents and ideas across the ocean to a
new and unfamiliar world. And today, with their
descendants and all who followed in their path, we
continue to perfect our Union together. On German-
American Day, we recognize their distinctive identity
and the ways they enrich our country.

German Americans helped build our Nation, and every day
they contribute to its growth. As they teach in our
schools, farm in our heartland, and serve in our Armed
Forces, their German roots offer a sense of their place
in the American story. From a land of poets and
thinkers, they brought passion for music, science, and
art, fortifying our culture and broadening our
understanding of the world. Our greatest cities and our
biggest advances reflect their daring spirit and
diverse contributions.

As we consider our German-American history, we are also
reminded that the United States and Germany are vital
partners. With the 25th anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall approaching, our security and prosperity
remain interwoven, and our friendship continues as we
work together in pursuit of a more peaceful, stable
world. On this occasion, may citizens from both sides
of the Atlantic draw strength from the legacy of our
Nation's earliest immigrants who boldly pushed forward
in unforgiving times. May our shared past continue to
inspire us as we face new challenges in our own time.

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, 2014, as
German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to learn
more about the history of German Americans and reflect
on the many contributions they have made to our Nation.

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