[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5389]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE GERMAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, INC. (D.A.N.K. #13)

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2004

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the inspiring 
achievement of the German-American National Congress, Inc. (D.A.N.K. 
No. 13) in the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph community. This great 
nonprofit organization celebrates its 40th anniversary on March 27, 
2004. Over the past four decades Americans of German descent, through 
the work of this organization, have been preserving the traditions and 
culture of their heritage throughout southwest Michigan.
  The German American National Congress (Deutsch Amerikanischer 
National Kongress), seeks to bring together Americans of German descent 
in the pursuit of cultivating and presenting their heritage and 
interests on local, regional, and national levels. These were the 
primary reasons why this organization was founded in 1959, and they are 
still among the organization's primary objectives today. The German-
American National Congress is the largest organization of Americans of 
German ancestry. It has some 30 chapters and over 100 associated member 
societies from coast to coast. I am very proud to have Chapter 13 in 
the Sixth District of Michigan, and I greatly appreciate all the 
benefits that the members have provided this community.
  It truly pleases me to honor the achievement of Chapter 13, and I 
hold the members in the highest of esteem. I would like to wish this 
organization all the best for the future and thank its members for 
promoting goodwill through southwest Michigan. I'm a frequent visitor 
to the chapter and there's not been a time that I haven't felt welcome 
like so many others in southwest Michigan.

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