[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 150 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2164]]
                 A NATIONAL SYMBOL FOR GERMAN-AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID MINGE

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 31, 1997

  Mr. MINGE. Mr. Speaker, this summer I was honored to be part of a 
glorious event for German-Americans, the Hermann Monument Centennial in 
New Ulm, MN. The 100-year dedication drew thousands of Americans with 
German ancestry to a parade and several festivals at the site of the 
Hermann Monument, a statue of a celebrated German hero.
  The Hermann Monument stands at a crest of a hill overlooking the city 
of New Ulm. To the thousands of residents in the heavily German-
American New Ulm area, the monument symbolizes the importance of German 
ancestry. To German-Americans scattered across the country, the Hermann 
Monument represents unity of the German people.
  The formation of a united Germany began in 9 A.D. when Arminius, or 
Hermann, defeated three Roman Legions who had invaded the area known 
today as Germany. His victory laid the foundation for German identity. 
Hermann went on to symbolize German unity and the hard work and 
perseverance it took to attain that goal.
  Centuries later in America, Hermann signified the struggle of the 
German immigrant coming to America. To Germans who came to this new 
country, Hermann stood for pride in having made it to America, and in 
having established opportunity for the future. Hermann was recast as a 
German-American symbol, representing the essence of the German-American 
experience.
  German-Americans are an integral part of the culture and history of 
our Nation. There are more than 57.9 million individuals of German 
heritage residing in the United States, representing nearly 25 percent 
of the population. German-Americans surpass all other ancestries as the 
largest ethnic group in the United States.
  Currently, we do not have a national symbol of the German heritage. 
The Hermann Monument celebrates the unity of German-Americans 
throughout our Nation. Consecrating a monument to this great leader, 
and manifesting it as a national symbol for German ancestry, emphasizes 
the importance of recognizing the contributions German-Americans have 
made to our country. This monument, visited by thousands of Americans 
of German ancestry, and revered by German history scholars, should be a 
national symbol for the contributions of German-Americans.
  It is with the goal of recognizing the German-American experience 
that I have introduced a concurrent resolution that designates the 
Hermann Monument as a National German-American Monument and a symbol of 
pride for Americans of German heritage. The bill will recognize the 
Hermann Monument as a sight of special historical significance.
  Scattered across the country in small towns as well as large cities, 
German-Americans are separated by regions of the country, but deeply 
united in ancestry. It is our duty to recognize the importance of the 
history and culture of German-Americans who have helped to mold our 
great Nation. This monument, representing unity of a great people and 
celebrating the experience of a unique culture, is but a small token of 
the contributions made by German-Americans to our great Nation.

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