[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 139 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                THE 22ND ANNUAL GERMAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

 Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. President, our country is a remarkable 
mosaic--a mixture of races, languages, ethnicities and religions--that 
grows increasingly diverse with each passing year. Nowhere is this 
incredible diversity more evident than in the State of New Jersey. In 
New Jersey, schoolchildren come from families that speak 120 different 
languages at home. These different languages are used in over 1.4 
million homes in my State. I have always believed that one of the 
United States' greatest strengths is the diversity of the people that 
make up its citizenry and I am proud to call the attention of my 
colleagues to an event in New Jersey that celebrates the importance of 
the diversity that is a part of America's collective heritage.
  On June 4, 1995, the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, began 
its 1995 Spring Heritage Festival Series. The Heritage Festival program 
salutes some of the different ethnic communities that contribute so 
greatly to New Jersey's diverse makeup. Highlighting old country 
customs and culture, the festival programs are an opportunity to 
express pride in the ethnic backgrounds that are a part of our 
collective heritage. Additionally, the Spring Heritage Festivals will 
contribute proceeds from their programs to the Garden State Arts 
Center's Cultural Center Fund which presents theater productions free-
of-charge to New Jersey's school children, seniors and other deserving 
residents. The Heritage Festival thus not only pays tribute to the 
cultural influences from our past, it also makes a significant 
contribution to our present day cultural activities.
  On Sunday, September 10, 1995, the Heritage Festival Series will 
celebrate the 22d Annual German Heritage Festival. Chaired by Ted 
Hierl, this year's event is a wonderful opportunity for the German-
American community to share its colorful culture with New Jerseyans and 
people from surrounding States through folk dancing, singing, food, and 
craft and cultural displays. Ted Hierl, of the radio stations WTTM/
Trenton and WJDM/Elizabeth will join Hansel Kronauer and Edith Prock, 
two of Germany's most popular entertainers as part of the evening's 
stage entertainment. The day promises to be full of fun, friendship and 
family.
  On behalf of all New Jerseyans of German descent, I offer my 
congratulations on the 22d anniversary of the German Heritage 
Festival.


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