[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 106--RECOGNIZING THE HERMANN MONUMENT AND 
HERMANN HEIGHTS PARK IN NEW ULM, MINNESOTA, AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE 
             CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS OF GERMAN HERITAGE

  Mr. GRAMS (for himself and Mr. Wellstone) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources:

                            S. Con. Res. 106

       Whereas there are currently more than 57,900,000 
     individuals of German heritage residing in the United States, 
     who comprise nearly 25 percent of the population of the 
     United States and are therefore the largest ethnic group in 
     the United States;
       Whereas those of German heritage are not descendants of 
     only 1 political entity, but of all German-speaking areas;
       Whereas Americans of German heritage have made countless 
     contributions to American culture, arts, and industry, the 
     American military, and American government;
       Whereas there is no nationally recognized tangible symbol 
     dedicated to German Americans and their positive 
     contributions to the United States;
       Whereas the story of Hermann the Cheruscan parallels that 
     of the American Founding Fathers, because he was a freedom 
     fighter who united ancient German tribes in order to shed the 
     yoke of Roman tyranny and preserve freedom for the territory 
     of present-day Germany;
       Whereas the Hermann Monument located in Hermann Heights 
     Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, was dedicated in 1897 to honor 
     the spirit of freedom and was later dedicated to all German 
     immigrants who settled in New Ulm and elsewhere in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas the Hermann Monument has been recognized as a site 
     of special historical significance by the United States 
     Government, by inclusion on the National Register of Historic 
     Places: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights 
     Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, is recognized by Congress as a 
     national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German 
     heritage.

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to submit a 
concurrent resolution designating Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights 
Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as national symbols of the contributions of 
Americans of German Heritage. I would like to thank Congressman David 
Minge and the other members of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation 
for introducing a similar resolution in the House of Representatives.
  Mr. President, I'd be surprised if anyone in this chamber has heard 
of Hermann Monument, but I would like to take a few minutes to explain 
its significance to the City of New Ulm, the State of Minnesota, and 
Americans of German Heritage across the United States.
  The Hermann Monument was erected in 1889 as a tribute to German 
immigrants to the United States. It honors Hermann the Cheruscan, who 
forged the creation of a united Germany by defeating three Roman 
Legions who had occupied the area now known as Germany. Hermann remains 
a symbol of German history, culture, dedication, and perseverance.
  The Hermann Monument, made of copper sheeting riveted to a steel 
interior frame, was dedicated in New Ulm, Minnesota, on September 25, 
1897. It stands 102 feet tall and is the second largest copper statue 
in the United States, behind only the Statue of Liberty. The Hermann 
monument remains the only memorial in the United States dedicated to 
German heritage and the contributions to American culture, arts, 
industry, and government.
  I believe it's also important to note that there are now almost 
58,000,000 individuals of German heritage living in the United States, 
comprising nearly 25 percent of our nation's population. That number 
makes German-Americans the largest ethnic group in the United States. 
In Minnesota, the number doubles to roughly 50 percent of Minnesotans 
being of German heritage.
  Today, however, the Hermann Monument faces a serious threat from over 
100 years of rain, wind, heat, humidity, hail and other challenges that 
have rendered the monument in need of restoration. Thankfully, the 
people of New Ulm have formed the Hermann Monument Renovation Project 
to raise the roughly $1.75 million needed to restore the monument and 
construct an Interpretive Center at its base.
  Mr. President, the legislation Senator Wellstone and I are 
introducing provides no funding for the restoration of the Hermann 
Monument. In fact, the Resolution costs the Federal Government nothing. 
Instead, our Resolution simply recognizes the Hermann Monument as a 
national symbol of the contributions of German Americans and gives the 
restoration project a boost in the arm. Our Resolution is a way for 
every member of the Senate to recognize the contributions of German 
Americans across the country. It doesn't preclude another such 
designation in the United States nor does it designate the Hermann 
Monument as the only National symbol for German Americans.
  Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join me, Senator Wellstone, 
the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, the Society of German-American 
Studies, the Steuben Society of America, the City of New Ulm, and the 
people of Minnesota in supporting this Resolution recognizing the 
contributions of German Americans and the national significance of New 
Ulm's Hermann Monument.

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