German-American Day celebrated Oct. 6

The citizens of Germany and the U.S. have important, mutual family and cultural ties.

German-American Day, which takes place on Oct. 6 of each year, is a day of commemoration in the U.S. It is to remind us of Oct. 6, 1683, when 13 German families arrived near Philadelphia and founded German-town, the first German settlement in the “New World.” This day was first celebrated in the 19th century, but was soon forgotten.

Exactly 300 years later, in 1983, on the occasion of the “Tricentennial Anniversary of German Settlement in America,” U.S. President Ronald Reagan declared Oct. 6 as “German-American Day” to honor German immigration and the culture it brought to the U.S. Some of these German people assisted in building the foundation of the country, which had come to be the most prominent symbol of freedom in the world.

On Aug. 6, 1987, the day was officially declared as “German-American Day” by U.S. Congress and became statutory law with President Reagan’s signature on Aug. 18, 1987. The official proclamation took place Oct. 2, 1987, within a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. President Reagan appealed to Americans to celebrate the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

The German-American and International Women’s Club Kaiserslautern and the Atlantic Academy will celebrate German-American Day together Oct. 2 in Kaiserslautern. With this celebration, as a symbol of a bridge between our countries and our past, present and future, we honor generations of Americans through whom we, especially in our region, have come to experience freedom and democracy. The economical and cultural factor for our region, co-created by many American companies and military presence, is a great component of growth for the City of Kaiserslautern and its county. 

A ceremony will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Atlantic Academy, Lauterstrasse 2, 67655 Kaiserslautern. A reception will follow until 7 p.m. To find the location, visit www.atlantische-akademie.de/unser-standort-wie-sie-uns-finden. To make reservations, call Helga Bäcker at 0631-72126 or e-mail vizepraesidentin2@daifc.de. For more information about the German-American and International Club, visit www.gaiwc.com.

(Courtesy of GAIWC)